Theoretical and Experimental Adhesion of Yeast Strains with High Chromium Removal Potential

Abstract

Biofilm-based bioprocesses are increasingly used in wastewater treatment. Microbial adhesion constitutes the key step in stability of these depollution systems. For adhesion studies, physicochemical characterization of microbial cells and supports has proved to be of extreme importance. In this work, estimation of interaction between five yeast strains with a high potential for Cr (VI) removal using extended Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey and Overbeek (XDLVO) theory as a powerful predictive tool of adhesion was investigated. Predictions showed that wood husk could be a good support for the formation of tested yeast biofilm, beech and oak exhibit better properties than other wood species studied with 100% of potential for adhesion. From a thermodynamic point of view, pine and teak woods are not suitable for biofilm formation for all tested yeast strains, presenting positive values of free energy adhesion (ΔGXDLVO). Environmental scanning electronic microscopy (ESEM) and Matlab® image analysis confirmed that all tested yeast strains were able to adhere to pine wood and, except for Wickerhamomyces anomalus they were unable to adhere to oak wood. Adhesion experiments were found to be well related to the theoretical prediction. To our knowledge, this is the first study dealing with biofilm-mediated depollution from an adhesion point of view aiming to optimize the stability of the system. It allows expanding knowledge about adhesion phenomena of yeast strains on wooden surface and contributes to select the best biofilm-support combination that would be used in a performant biological system for chromium removal.