kappa-carrageenan/gelatin gel beads for the co-immobilization of aerobic and anaerobic microbial communities degrading 2,4,6-trichlorophenol under air-limited conditions
H. Gardin et A. Pauss, kappa-carrageenan/gelatin gel beads for the co-immobilization of aerobic and anaerobic microbial communities degrading 2,4,6-trichlorophenol under air-limited conditions, APPL MICR B, 56(3-4), 2001, pp. 517-523
Alginate and kappa -carrageenan gels were tested as bead materials for the
co-immobilization of anaerobic and aerobic microorganisms for the mineraliz
ation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol under air-limited conditions. Chemical, mech
anical and thermal culture constraints were pre-defined and the gel resista
nces were established. Alginate was quickly eliminated because of its chemi
cal instability in the culture media. In anaerobic conditions, the microorg
anisms transformed the substrates into CH4 and CO2. The kappa -carrageenan
gel did not enable these gases to diffuse. They remained as bubbles in the
core of the beads and made the beads float. Gelatin was added to kappa -car
rageenan in order to change the carrier properties. No biogas bubbles appea
red in the bead core during the cultures in anaerobic conditions and the be
ads reacted well to the culture conditions in the reactor. The coimmobiliza
tion of the anaerobic and aerobic microbial communities was successfully pe
rformed with the kappa -carrageenan/gelatin gel (2% (w/w) of each polymer).
The biological activities, measured by the impedancemetry technique, were
preserved in the beads.