Biodegradation Pathway Prediction Of Pops (Persistent Organic Pollutants) And Biobarrier Treatment
SANTIAGO CARDONA
Escuela de Geociencias y Medio Ambiente, Facultad de Minas, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Medellín. Profesor Asociado. sacardona@unal.edu.co EDGAR SUÁREZ
Escuela de Biociencias, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Medellín. esuarez@unal.edo.co
Received for review July 27 th , 2009, accepted March 4 th , 2009, final version May, 14 th , 2009
ABSTRACT: In this paper, the biodegradation pathway of Dieldrin is simulated using an expert system. This insecticide is included in the Stockholm Convention, signed and ratified by Colombian government in 2008, and it is considered one of the most harmful humanmade compounds. For this model contaminant a complete metabolic biodegradation sequence was built and a simulationbased strategy was formulated for its biodegradation in a practical case. According to the simulated metabolic pathway, a sequential aerobicanaerobicaerobic reactor would be the best choice to achieve complete biodegradation. Using these results, the authors propose an innovative system for the biological treatment of POPs; this system was called BioReactive Permeable Barrier (BioBarrier). In this work a description of the main and fundamentals aspects of BioBarrier system is also included, showing a new and potential possibility for the biotreatment of hazardous pollutants. KEYWORDS: Metabolic pathway, Heuristic, Persistent Organic Pollutant, BioBarrier. RESUMEN: En este trabajo la ruta de biodegradación de Dieldrin es simulada usando un sistema experto. Este insecticida es incluido en el Convenio de Estocolmo, firmado y ratificado por el gobierno Colombiano en 2008, y es considerado uno de los compuestos sintéticos más tóxicos. Para este compuesto modelo, una secuencia metabólica completa de biodegradación es construida y una estrategia basada en simulación es formulada para su biodegradación en un eventual proceso aplicado. De acuerdo con la simulación realizada, un proceso secuencial aerobioanaerobioaerobio sería la mejor opción para asegurar una completa biodegradación. A partir de estos resultados los autores proponen un sistema innovador para el tratamiento biológico de los Compuestos Orgánicos Persistentes COPs denominado BioBarrera Reactiva Permeable COPs (BioBarrera ). En este trabajo, una descripción de los conceptos fundamentales del diseño y características de las BioBarreras es presentadoadicionalmente, mostrando una nueva posibilidad para el tratamiento biológico de contaminantes peligrosos. PALABRAS CLAVE: Ruta Metabólica, Heuristica, Compuesto Orgánico Persistente, BioBarrera.
Dyna, year 77, Nro. 163, pp. 115123. Medellin, September, 2010. ISSN 00127353
116
Cardona and Suárez
1. INTRUDUCTION Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are organic (carbon based) compounds synthesized artificially (like pesticides and PolyChlorinate Biphenyls PCBs) or generated as byproducts mainly by human activities (like Dioxins and Furans) and are considered as the most dangerous pollutants if released into the environment. POPs have four characteristics in common [1]: are toxic, environmentally persistent, soluble in fatty tissues and easily transported through the environment. The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, signed by Colombian government in 2001 and ratified in 2008, focuses on the reduction and safe elimination of 12 POPs (Dirty Dozen), including eight pesticides (aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, mirex, and ...
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