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Immobilization of growing bacterial cells was considered as an
innovative technique and very effective in dealing with major
environmental challenges for bioremediation of organics-loaded
wastewater. This study was undertaken to investigate the aerobic
biodegradation of furfural in aqueous solution by using
immobilized Bacillus cells in spouted bed bioreactor. Bacillus
cells were individually immobilized in the matrices of sodium
alginate, guar-gum, and agar-agar; each was cross linked in
polyvinyl alcohol. Immobilized cells exhibited efficient furfural
degradation in several successive reuse batches up to 3 cycles
without losing their degradation activity which could provide
economic advantages when used in industrial-scale applications.
Results of batch experiments in fluidized spouted bed bioreactor
demonstrated that complete removal of furfural using
immobilized Bacillus cells in the first and second cycles was
achieved after 450 and 480 min, respectively. The removal
efficiency of furfural was 100%, 100%, and 95% for the 1st,
2nd, and 3rd, cycles, respectively. Unlike the free cells, the
potentiality of the immobilized cells is that they could be reused
without reduction in their ability to degrade hazardous furfural.
Additional advantage of immobilized cells compared to free
cells, is their ability to tolerate high concentrations of furfural.
