Silica-alginate-fungi biocomposites for remediation of polluted water

PERULLIN M, JOBBÁGY M, MOUSO N, FORCHIASSIN F, BILMES S

JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY

ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY

Año: 2010 vol. 20 p. 6479 - 6483

0959-9428

Here we introduce an assembly for bioremediation of polluted water based on the immobilization ofalginate beads loaded with filamentous fungus Stereum hirsutum inside nanoporous silica hydrogels.The resulting hybrid device exhibits good physical, chemical and biological stability, being effective inthe removal and degradation of malachite green (MG), even in solutions with a high concentration ofthe dye. This fact is a consequence of adsorption and regulated transport of the dye, as well as theretention of dye degradation enzymes inside the hydrogel. The optimal structure of the hydrogel for anefficient dye–enzyme encounter resulted from the fine adjustment of synthesis conditions in order toachieve a suitable porosity. The results presented here open the possibility of bioremediation withoutdissemination of exotic organisms to the environment, and can be extended to a vast variety of strainsdue to the inherent high biocompatibility of the present procedure.