title: Biocatalytic coatings for air pollution control: a proof of concept study on VOC biodegradation.
abstract: Although biofilm-based biotechnologies exhibit a large potential as solutions for off-gas treatment, the high water content of biofilms often causes pollutant mass transfer limitations, which ultimately limit their widespread application. The present study reports on the proof of concept of the applicability of bioactive latex coatings for air pollution control. Toluene vapors served as a model volatile organic compound (VOC). The results showed that Pseudomonas putida F1 cells could be successfully entrapped in nanoporous latex coatings while preserving their toluene degradation activity. Bioactive latex coatings exhibited toluene specific biodegradation rates 10 times higher than agarose-based biofilms, because the thin coatings were less subject to diffusional mass transfer limitations. Drying and pollutant starvation were identified as key factors inducing a gradual deterioration of the biodegradation capacity in these innovative coatings. This study constitutes the first application of bioactive latex coatings for VOC abatement. These coatings could become promising means for air pollution control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Hudson Hall, Box 90287, Durham, North Carolina, 27708; Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, University of Valladolid, Venue Dr. Mergelina, Valladolid, 47011, Spain.
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Estrada
authors.forename: Oscar I
authors.initials: OI
authors.lastname: Bernal
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Flickinger
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Marc A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Deshusses
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018441:Biofilms; D016958:Pseudomonas putida; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds
keywords: Pseudomonas putida; VOC; air pollution; bioactive latex coating; biofiltration; biological paint; toluene