Conceptual Model for Biotechnological Treatment of Atrazine Production Wastewater (TP-01/0098-19)

The Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia (2002-2006)

Principal investigator: Dubravka Hršak, “Ruđer Bošković” Institute
Responsible investigator at IMI: Vlasta Drevenkar

SUMMARY
The growth kinetic experiments of the selected microbial cultures as well as kinetic experiments of atrazine transformation are performed with the aim to obtain data necessary for designing the plant for treatment of wastewater from atrazine production. The treatment plant is indispensable to reduce atrazine concentration in technological wastewater down to the limits set by the regulations in force.

The investigations include the isolation of microbial cultures from various environments (soil treated with atrazine, sediment and waste water from atrazine production) and checking of their activity in atrazine transformation under optimum conditions. Modern methods of batch and continuous cultures under controlled conditions are employed as well as modern analytical techniques for quantitative atrazine determination and identification of formed intermediates (GC, GC-MS, HPLC, TOC). The results of model kinetic investigations will be used both for designing the treatment plant and for optimising the biotechnological procedure.