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Bacterial Culture for Degradation of Atrazine and Other S-Triazine Pesticides
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| Offer Post Time: | 2008-07-02 |
| Expiration Date: | 2009-01-02 |
| Details: | MARKET OPPORTUNITY
Atrazine is selective triazine herbicide used for broad and narrow leaf weed control for more than 30 years. It is used in 80 countries throughout the world - atrazine market is worth 800 million $. In USA atrazine is the most widely used herbicide for controlling weeds on corn (on 69 % of acreage) and sugar cane acreage (on 90 % of acreage). Unfortunately, due to its mobility in soil atrazine is one of the most important pollutants of surface and ground water, sea water and soil. Increasing concern about confirmed toxic and ecotoxic properties of atrazine raises the need for new methods for accelerating the biodegradation processes at atrazine-polluted sites. INNOVATION DESCRIPTION Atrazine degradation can be achieved by various chemical procedures that all include the use of harmful chemicals and produce harmful by-products. All these methods are applicable for atrazine degradation on non-soil polluted sites. When it comes to degradation on large soil areas or in water, these methods are neither economic nor simply applicable. The procedure has to be done ex situ, which means polluted soil has to be dug out while underwater has to be pumped out. Our method for degradation of atrazine and other s-triazine pesticides using natural microbial culture is biotechnological process based on bioremediation principles (use of microorganisms for accelerating degradation processes). It is cheaper and more environment-friendly solution than classic chemical methods currently used. By simple spraying of microbial culture portion in situ over polluted soil or by pouring into wastewater container followed by stirring, atrazine is degraded naturally, efficiently and with no hazardous by-products. By binding onto some porous inert carrier, bacterial culture can degrade atrazine and other s-triazine pesticides directly also in running waters. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY STATUS This innovation is the subject of Croatian and international patent application. Rudjer Innovations Ltd. Would like to offer patent application as well as related know-how and experience to companies interested in commercial exploitation. |
