Two-phase partitioning bioreactors: a new technology platform for destroying xenobiotics

Toxic organic compounds (xenobioties) pose serious environmental and health risks worldwide. Biological treatment of these materials is severely const rained by their toxic and inhibitory nature and great care is required with respect to the rate at which they are provided to cells. The use of a seco nd, distinct, organic phase in a bioreactor has been shown to provide a vir tually foolproof means of feeding substrate to cells because this process c oncept relies only on thermodynamic equilibrium and the cells' own rate of metabolism. This technology can be applied to stockpiled xenobiotics as wel l as contamination of air, water and soil environments.