Immobilization ofPhanerochaete chrysosporium on porous polyurethane particles with application to biodegradation of 2-chlorophenol

Porous polyurethane particles were prepared and used for the immobilization of white rot fungusPhanerochaete chrysosporium. The immobilized cells were employed for the production of lignin peroxidase. Polyurethane immobilized spores, or mycelial pellets ofPhanerochaete chrysosporium as well as freely suspended mycelial pellets of fungus were used as biocatalyst for the degradation of 2-chlorophenol. The polyurethane carriers appear to be superior to the other carriers already used for the immobilization of fungus.     

Dynamics of cell deposition on surfaces.

The rate of deposition of particles onto a surface, in the presence of London, double-layer, and gravitational forces, is calculated in terms of the energy of interaction between cell and surface by assuming that Brownian motion over a potential energy barrier is the rate-determining step of the process.