Sustainable Pesticide Degradation Using Esterase and Coimmobilized Cells in Agriculture

Abstract

This study presents an enzymatic approach to mitigate the environmental and health impacts of organophosphate pesticides (OPs) in agriculture. Using esterase enzymes from the Sphingobium fuliginis strain ATCC 27551 (Opd), we developed a bioremediation system capable of degrading OPs under both buffered and unbuffered conditions. Enzyme activity was evaluated across pH and temperature ranges, with optimal performance observed at pH 8.5–10 and sustained stability for over 28 days. A key innovation was the coimmobilization of Escherichia coli cells expressing Opd and flavin-dependent monooxygenase (HadA) in calcium alginate, enabling the transformation of toxic OPs into less harmful benzoquinones. The system demonstrated high degradation efficiency, achieving 100% degradation of ethyl parathion, along with substantial degradation of methyl parathion (98%), fenitrothion (91%), ethyl chlorpyrifos (83%), and profenofos (62%). Validation in flow cells and column-based setups confirmed the practical applicability of this approach for treating OP-contaminated soil and water. These findings highlight the potential of enzyme-based, cell-immobilized systems for sustainable pesticide remediation. This method offers a practical, eco-friendly solution for reducing pesticide residues in agricultural environments and supports the advancement of greener farming practices.