Bioremediation of contaminated surface water by immobilized Micrococcus roseus

Environ Technol. 2005 Aug;26(8):931-9. doi: 10.1080/09593332608618504.

Abstract

The problems caused by contaminated surface water have gradually become more serious in recent years. Although various remediation technologies were investigated, unfortunately, no efficient method was developed. In this paper, a new bioremediation technology was studied using Micrococcus roseus, which was immobilized in porous spherical beads by an improved polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) - sodium alginate (SA) embedding method. The experimental results indicated that COD removal rate could reach 64.7 % within 72 hours when immobilized M. roseus beads were used, which was ten times as high as that of free cells. The optimum inoculation rate of immobilized M. roseus beads was 10 % (mass percent of the beads in water sample, g g(-1)). Suitable aeration was proved necessary to enhance the bioremediation process. The immobilized cells had an excellent tolerance to pH and temperature changes, and were also more resistant to heavy metal stress compared with free cells. The immobilized M. roseus beads had an excellent regeneration capacity and could be reused after 180-day continuous usage. The Scanning Electronic Microscope (SEM) analysis showed that the bead microstructure was suitable for M. roseus growth, however, some defect structures should still be improved.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alginates / chemistry
  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Cells, Immobilized / metabolism
  • Cells, Immobilized / microbiology
  • China
  • Fresh Water*
  • Glucuronic Acid / chemistry
  • Hexuronic Acids / chemistry
  • Micrococcus / growth & development
  • Micrococcus / metabolism*
  • Micrococcus / ultrastructure
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Microspheres
  • Polyvinyl Alcohol / chemistry
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / metabolism*
  • Water Purification / methods*

Substances

  • Alginates
  • Hexuronic Acids
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Glucuronic Acid
  • Polyvinyl Alcohol