Silica Biocomposites: MM-scale bioremediation reactors for the treatment of highly contaminated water

S. ALDABE BILMES, F. FORCHIASSIN, M. JOBBAGY, M. PERULLINI

Montevideo, Uruguay

Congreso; VIII Congreso SETAC LA Ecotoxicolog'ia y desarrollo sustentable; 2007

SETAC LA

Sol–gel chemistry of silicates has emerged as an outstanding strategy to obtain biomaterials in which living cells are truly protected. This field of research is rapidly developing and new strategies of immobilization have allowed liquid cell culture entrapment inside silica matrices. Here we cultured the filamentous fungus Stereum hirsutum in mm-scale cavities inside a glass-like matrix.The ability of these mm-scale bioreactors to degrade a simulated textile dye (malachite green) was evaluated and compared with free fungus activity. Porosity of the silica matrix can be adjusted to specific conditions, working as diffusion barrier concentrating ligninolytic enzymes in the immediacy of the fungus and allowing contaminant to slowly diffuse to the active bioremediation site. Regulating the effective concentration of contaminant in contact with the bioremediation organism, an efficient process occurs even in high contaminant concentration conditions. The resultingf hybrid device had good mechanical stability and proved to be effective after 3 cycles of use, suggesting that it could be employed for in situ bioremediation applications. Key words: Fungal immobilization; white-rot fungi; silica matrix; sol-gel; bioremediation; textile dye