Decolorization of anthraquinone dye with immobilized Penicillium jensenii.

Cells of Penicillium jensenii were immobilized by entrapment in natural and synthetic polymeric matrices. The decolorization of Reactive Brilliant Blue KN-R by immobilized cells has been studied. It was found that CA-immobilized cells could effectively decolorize reactive brilliant blue KN-R. Many factors affecting the decolorization process were studied, including: pH, temperature, dye concentration, shaker speed and culture time. The reusability of the immobilized cells was evaluated with repeated-batch decolorization experiments. The optimum pH, temperature, shaker speed and culture time of decolorization with CA-, CGN-, and PAA- immobilized cells are 4.0 and 30 degrees C and 150r/min and 48hr respectively, dye concentration could have some effects on decolorization. After four repeated experiments, the decolorization rate of CA-, CGN-, and PAA- immobilized cells could still remain 73.6%, 60.8%, 50.5%, respectively.

A comparative study of Cu (II) biosorption on Ca-alginate and immobilized live and inactivated Cladosporium sp.

Spores of Cladosporium sp. were immobilized into Ca-alginate beads via entrapment. The alginate beads and both entrapped live and inactivated spores of Cladosporium sp. were used for comparison of biosorptive capacity from aqueous solutions. The factors affecting the adsorption ability on Cu (II), such as the contact time, initial pH, temperature were investigated. The results showed that the Ca-alginate beads containing live spores of Cladosporium sp. had the maximum biosorptive capacity. The biosorption equilibrium was established in about 3 h. The maximum biosorption of Cu (II) on Ca-alginate entrapping spores and no spores were obtained between pH 4.0 and 3.5. Temperature over the range of 15-45 degrees C had no significant effect on the biosorption capacity. The biosorptive capacity increased with initial concentrations in the concentration range of 30-800mg/l. The equilibrium was well described by Langmuir biosorption isotherms. The Ca-alginate beads could be regenerated using 0.1M HCl, The biosorbents were reused in three biosorption-desorption cycles with negligible decrease in biosorptive capacity.