Benzene degradation by bacterial cells immobilized in polyacrylamide gel

Summary Whole cells ofPseudomonas putida were immobilized in polyacrylamide gel and their ability to utilise benzene was examined. On initial immobilization cells were found to lose 40–70% of their activity. This activity could be restored by incubation in a medium containing benzene and succinate. It was also found that partial activation could be achieved by incubation with iron salts, in the absence of a carbon source. Electron microscopy showed this activation to be accompanied by an increase in cell numbers, with the formation of cell conglomerates within gel interstices. However, under some conditions, prolonged elution with substrate resulted in cell disruption and loss of activity.