Screening of bacterial biosorbents for removal of atrazine

Atrazine is one of the most heavily used herbicide worldwide. Atrazine has been detected in ground and surface waters in many countries beyond permissible limits due to its low vapor pressure, long persistence, and low biodegradability. This study aims to develop a bacterial biomass which can be used as biosorbent to remove the atrazine from waters easily and cost-effectively. Here, fourteen bacterial strains were isolated from soil having the history of atrazine contamination and batch experiments were carried with biosorbents prepared from various bacterial isolates. The biosorbent BS-1 developed from strain C 1 was found be the best for the removal of atrazine.