A convenient method to study fungal spores retention on a porous preformed support

A method was developed to determine engineering parameters of a preformed porous cellulose carrier, commercially known as Microcube. It demonstrated a high water retention (20 g g^–1 dry support) connected to a wet support density slightly higher than that of water (1.005 g ml^–1), making this material suitable for use in stirred vessels; a high porosity (96%) was also evidenced. Ungerminated spores of Aspergillus niger reversibly adsorbed on the carrier according to a Langmuir-type isotherm, while germinating conidia irreversibly attached to particles, allowing a further pellet-like development.