Evaluation of the characteristics of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as matrices for the immobilization of Pseudomonas putida

This study evaluates the characteristics and viability of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a support material for biomass immobilization. PVA gel pellets were prepared by iterative freezing-thawing method using different PVA compositions. The porous structures of the PVA pellets were examined using a Compound Microscope and SEM and revealed that the matrix structure and pore size distribution were affected by PVA composition. Mechanical properties of the PVA gel were characterized to evaluate its integrity as matrices for immobilizing microbial cells and found to be dependent on the PVA mass composition. As the PVA mass % increases the mechanical performance improved. Experiments were also carried out to utilize the prepared gel pellets for the immobilization of Pseudomonas putida and biodegradation of phenol over a long period of time. The results revealed that the capabilities of the biomass to degrade phenol increased with time and depended on the PVA mass content and porous structure. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.