Micro-encapsulated organic phase for enhanced bioremediation of hydrophobic organic pollutants

Atrazine, one of the most widely used pesticides, is a relatively hydrophobic organic pollutant (HOP) that contaminates ground and surface waters. Bioremediation of this pesticide by the bacterium Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP could successfully be performed in a pure aqueous system, with a specific growth rate of 0.0575h−1 utilizing 100mg/L of atrazine as a sole nitrogen source. However, growth rate inhibition was observed at higher pesticide concentrations.