Hydrolysis of organophosphorus pesticides in soil: New opportunities with ecocompatible immobilized His6-OPH

Immobilized biocatalyst developed on the basis of hexahistidine-tagged organophosphorus hydrolase (His6-OPH) was tried for bioremediation of various soil samples heavily contaminated by pesticides. Various cellulose-containing carriers being agricultural wastes were applied for His6-OPH immobilization enabling stabilization of the enzyme and its retention in the organophosphorus pesticides destruction zone. Straw-based immobilized enzymatic preparation ensured the decomposition of 630 mg Paraoxon or 850 mg Diazinon or 185 mg Parathion per kg soil in less than 10 days; meanwhile, the half-life of active biocatalyst in sand was estimated as 130 days. Immobilized His6-OPH allowed to hydrolyze pesticide in the case of its reintroduction into soil samples. The influence of soil type on the kinetics of organophosphorus pesticides destruction was revealed.

► His6-tagged organophosphorus hydrolase was immobilized for soil bioremediation.
► Straw-based biocatalyst ensured hydrolysis of organophosphorus pesticides in soil.
► The influence of soil type on the kinetics of pesticide destruction was revealed.