Bacterial degradation of the herbicide bromoxynil by Agrobacterium radiobacter in biofilm.

The bromoxynil-degrading soil microorganism Agrobacterium radiobacter was used for degradation of the herbicide under nonsterile batch and continuous conditions. From four types of carrier particles, beech shavings showed the best stability of the bacterial biofilm, bromoxynil concentration in a column reactor decreasing to 65% after 5 d. The efficacy of degradation was enhanced by addition of ferrous, cobaltous or cupric ions.