title: Immobilization of nitrite oxidizing bacteria using biopolymeric chitosan media.
abstract: The effects of chitosan characteristics including the degree of deacetylation, molecular weight, particle size, pH pretreatment and immobilization time on the immobilization of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) on biopolymeric chitosan were investigated. Nitrite removal efficiency of immobilized NOB depended on the degree of deacetylation, particle size, pH pretreatment on the surface of chitosan and immobilization time. Scanning electron microscope characterization illustrated that the number of NOB cells attached to the surface of chitosan increased with an increment of immobilization time. The optimal condition for NOB immobilization on chitosan was achieved during a 24-hr immobilization period using chitosan with the degree of deacetylation larger than 80% and various particle size ranges between 1-5 mm at pH 6.5. In general, the NOB immobilized on chitosan flakes has a high potential to remove excess nitrite from wastewater and aquaculture systems.
authors.affiliation: Metallurgy and Materials Science Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. Pranee.L@chula.ac.th
authors.forename: Pranee
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lertsutthiwong
authors.forename: Duangcheewan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boonpuak
authors.forename: Wiboonluk
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pungrasmi
authors.forename: Sorawit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Powtongsook
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D048271:Chitosan; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009573:Nitrites; D048271:Chitosan