Detoxification of Rinsates from Aerial Pesticide Applications Using a Marine Polysaccharide/Diatomaceous Earth Packed Bed Biological Reactor

The aminopolysaccharide, chitin, and its deacetylated derivative, chitosan, have been evaluated for use as an immobilizing agent of bacteria for continuous detoxification of xenobiotics. Data will be presented on the effectiveness of this biotreatment system in detoxifying typical rinsates from aerial spraying of pesticides in agricultural areas adjacent to highly productive wetlands. Toxicants evaluated to date have included organophoshates, organochlorines and glyphosate rinsates. Methyl parathion data is presented as test case.