Biotechnology-2014 biodegradation performance of phenol by free and alginate entrapped cells of Haloarcula strain D21, an extremely halophilic bacterium isolated from a solar saltern (Ain Salah, Algeria)

Abstract

Immobilization is a general term that describes many different forms of cell attachment or entrapment. These different forms include encapsulation of cells in a polymer-gel and entrapment in a matrix. The Advantages of these techniques are to reduced possibility of inoculum contamination during storage, transport and application. So, beads are non toxic, biodegradable and non-polluting and can be produced in large quantities, stored for extended periods. Moreover, phenols and phenolic compounds are widely distributed as environmental pollutants due to their common presence in the effluents of many industrial processes, including oil refineries, ceramic plants, coal conversion process, phenolic resins, pharmaceutical and food Industries. The aim of this study was to compare the biodegradation performance of phenol by using free and encapsulated cells of Haloarcula strain D21 isolated from crude oil contaminated saline water collected at Ain Salah in Algeria. Batch experiments were carried out in order to obtain the maximum phenol degradation rates by analyzing the influence of the immobilization in calcium-alginate gel beads on biodegradation performance