Reduction and separation of nitrate and nitrite by liquid membrane-encapsulated enzymes

Purified enzymes encapsulated in liquid surfactant membranes have been shown to retain their catalytic activity. In general, previous work on encapsulation has been confined to single enzymes. The system has now been extended to encapsulate a bacterial cell-free homogenate. Liquid membrane-encapsulated bacterial cell-free homogenate reduces effectively NO₃^? to NO₂^? and other nitrogen compounds of lower oxidation state. This technique of removing nitrates and nitrites may have application in waste-water treatment. Also, it has been shown that encapsulated cell-free homogenate does not leak and there is no absorption of the substrate onto the liquid surfactant membrane surfaces. The reduction in the reaction rates is discussed in terms of solubility of the substrate and the rate of permeation of the substrates through the liquid surfactant membrane.