The feasibility of immobilization of bioflocculant-producing bacteria using mycelial pellets as biomass carriers

Bioflocculant-producing bacteria Agrobacterium tumefaciens F2 and Bacillus sphaeicus F6 were immobilized onto mycelial pellets to investigate the bioflocculant-producing potential of this combined organism and the corresponding flocculating efficiency. The atomic force microscope (AFM) images of mycelial surface indicate that the mycelia pellet can immobilize bioflocculant-producing bacteria F2 and F6 as a biomass carrier. The flocculating efficiency of bioflocculant produced by this combined organism was studied under the optimum flocculating conditions obtained by Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The fermentation yield of the combined mycelial pellet is about 2.6 g/L, which is higher than that of the free bacteria (only 2.2 g/L). Flocculating efficiency of the combined mycelial pellet was comparable with that of bioflocculant generated by the free bacteria. The bioflocculant yield is enhanced and the flocculating efficiency of the co-culture is uninfluenced after immobilized with mycelial pellet as a carrier. In conclusion, the mycelial pellet is feasible as a biomass carrier for the immobilization of bioflocculant-producing bacteria.