The Separation of Bacteria by Adsorption onto Ion Exchange Resins: II. Resolution of Binary Mixtures

Abstract

The distribution of microbial cells in a mixed suspension containing several species of microorganisms, as well as dissolved and particulate matter, can be altered in three ways: (a) nonspecific concentration of the cells with no purification, (b) purification of the cells by removal of the dissolved or suspended contaminants with no concentration, and (c) resolution of the mixed cell suspension into its component species. All three of these processes may be operating separately or simultaneously depending upon the type of separation technique applied. Cells in a suspension can be concentrated by general techniques such as filtration, sedimentation, and drying (9), and by the more specific techniques of chemical flocculation (23) and microflotation (29). Dialysis (11) and ion exchange (28) have been principally applied to the purification of suspensions of their contaminants or undesired byproducts rather than of the cells themselves.