title: Cell immobilization using PVA crosslinked with boric acid.
abstract: A new cell immobilization technique is described in which polyvinyl alcohol is crosslinked with boric acid, with the addition of a small amount of calcium alginate. The presence of the calcium alginate improves the surface properties of the beads, preventing agglomeration. A pure culture of phenol-degrading Pseudomonas was immobilized in the PVA-alginate beads. Phenol was successfully degraded in a fluidized bed of the beads, indicating that cell viability was maintained following the immobilization procedure. The PVA-alginate beads proved to be very strong and durable, with no noticeable degradation of the beads after 2 weeks of continuous operation of the fluidized bed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104, USA.
authors.forename: K Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Wisecarver