27] Immobilization of microbial cells by adsorption to solid supports

Abstract

Among the numerous methods of microbial cell immobilization that have been perfected in recent years, it is clear that the method most closely approaching natural phenomena is immobilization by adsorption. The adsorption of microorganisms is traditionally put to good use, and often in an empirical manner, in commonly used technological processes. This is notably the case in the principal industrial applications of fermentation––that is, depollution using biological filters or in the manufacture of vinegar. Cells are associated with a support, which results in much greater efficiency as opposed to cells in free form, especially with respect to the global economy of such biological processes. These results have led to attempt a better characterization of the behavior of microbial cells immobilized by adsorption. In terms of practical applications, microorganism adsorption allows a much greater reactor catalytic density than when free cells are used in classic-type fermentors.