EXPERIMENTAL BIOFILM AND ITS APPLICATION IN MALATHION DEGRADATION

Mixed bacterial culture consisting of three different strains of Micro coccus sp. (AG 36, AG 94 and AG 98) and two strains of Pseudomonas sp. (AG 7 and AG 52) and its individual components was passed through a s and column and 25.5-92 % of cell dry mass was found to be retained (ad sorbed) on it. Incubation of sand soaked in mineral medium containing glucose as a sole carbon source resulted in formation of a biofilm wit h 1.2-25-fold increase in biomass. A 61 % degradation of malathion by the mixed culture biofilm could be achieved in 4 d.