Phenol degradation in a packed bed reactor by immobilized cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa MTCC 4997

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa MTCC 4997 capable of degrading phenol was isolated and its immobilization potential in calcium alginate, polyurethane foam, k-carrageenan, polyacrylamid, agarose and hen egg white was investigated. All the immobilized matrices showed faster degradation than free cells in a packed bed reactor. Comparatively polyurethane foam immobilized cells retained 100% phenol degradation recorded up to150 mL/h flow rate followed by 50 mL/h flow rate from alginate and k-carrageenan, respectively. Furthermore, polyurethane foam immobilized cells capable of degrading phenol up to the concentration of 1500 mg/L with in 750 min. Polyurethane foam immobilized non-regenerated and regenerated cells were tested for their phenol degradability up to 150 days. Non-regenerated cells showed 100% efficiency of phenol degradation up to 90 days, while regenerated cells showed significant100% efficiency up to 135 days. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd