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Biodegradation by Bacteria Immobilised on Celite Particles

Abstract

Cells of the organism Alcaligenes denitrificans were immobilised in Celite, particles of calcined diatomaceous earths. The kinetics of adsorption of non-growing cells was tested under varying conditions of cell concentration, salt concentration and pre-saturation of the beads with growth substrate. The adsorption of cells was also compared against other common biomass carrier particles such as sand, charcoal and anthracite. From this, a method for the immobilisation of cells onto Celite was developed, and cells immobilised by this method were used in a bubble column reactor, operated continuously at a dilution rate greater than the apparent maximum exponential growth rate of the free cells. The physical presence of cells on the diatomaceous earth particles was studied using scanning electron microscopy.

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Caunt, P., Chase, H. Biodegradation by Bacteria Immobilised on Celite Particles. Nat Biotechnol 6, 721–725 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0688-721

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