Development of a rapid, effective method for seeding biofiltration systems using alginate bead-immobilized cells

1. DEVELOPMENT OF A RAPID, EFFECTIVE METHOD
FOR SEEDING BIOFILTRATION SYSTEMS USING
ALGINATE BEAD-IMMOBILIZED CELLS
Presented by: Dr. Low Wan Li
Project collaborators: Odour Services International Limited (OSIL)
& University of Wolverhampton
Funded by: Technology Strategy Board, U.K. & OSIL
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2. Introduction to odour
• Odorous emission source - manufacturing, petrochemical,
food, solid waste, sewage treatment and agricultural
activities.
• Treatment methods = scrubbing, incineration, thermal
oxidation, biofiltration and adsorption
• Air pollution compounds - VOC, sulphurous compounds,
ketones, aldehydes, lower molecular weight fatty acids,
ammonia and amines
• Odorous air pollutants - NH3, VOC, sulphur-containing
compounds such as H2S, S2-
and mercaptans (R-SH)
• Irritants and some may be hazardous to health at higher
exposure
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3. Biofiltration systems
• Modernization of biotechnology - biofiltration systems
gaining popularity
• Microorganisms - metabolize/neutralize the
malodorous compounds
• Mixed population can develop over time from the
indigenous microorganisms present - natural selection
• Alternatively, suitable inocula can be introduced
• Promote initial colonization - enhance performance
• Inoculums supplied in various forms – freeze dried,
broth culture, immobilized cells
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4. Advantage of immobilized cells
• Immobilization of cells in alginate (3D-polymer matrix)
• Gain temporary protection against any potentially
degenerative changes in the new environment
• Promote a higher localized cell loading
• Prevent high dilution rates / inoculum wash out due to the
continuous irrigation process
• Degradable nature of alginate - slow release mechanism
• Encapsulated microorganisms released from the matrix to
successfully colonize, attach and form a biofilm on the
biofilter media
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5. Alginate-immobilized cells production
Application
Lab-scale
Biofilter
(small)
Real-life biofilter
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6. Colonisation of inoculum on biofilter
media
Initial colonization of inoculums
Heavy colonization leading
to biofilm formation
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7. Alginate-immobilized cell viability
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8. Alginate-immobilized cell viability
• Micro-environment within the beads - nutrients, limits cell
exposure to external stress and toxic conditions, allow cells
to proliferate
• Cells to maintain viability over a longer period of time
• 2 weeks storage – observe fungal populations
contaminating and growing on the bead structures
• Freeze dry - preserve the cells and alginate bead
• Process shrinks the bead size whilst removing at least 91 %
of the initial bead weight
• Easy storage and transport
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9. Freeze-dried alginate beads
0.5 g of freeze dried beads
From this: To this:
Rehydrated back to at least
75.0 % of original weight
Reduced by ≈ 87.5 %
of original weight
Beads after being rehydrated
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10. Freeze-dried alginate beads
Average result
Initial viability in beads upon production
(CFU/g)
2.27 x 108
Freeze-dried bead weight (g) 2.36
Rehydrated bead weight (g) 11.94
Viability of beads upon rehydration
(CFU/g)
7.48 x 107
Table show the summary of cell viability and weight of freeze
dried beads rehydrated in media for 48 hours
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11. Air pollution control challenge
• Traditional odour control system technologies may not
cope
• Increasing variation in processing and manufacturing
industries in modern society
• Complicated mixture of contaminants from modern
industrial processes
• Require effective strategies to be implemented at the
design and initial planning stage based on the “best-fit”
concept
• Resolve the odour issue, keep within the budgetary and
legislative constraints
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12. Research Outcomes
• Effective biofilter – require efficient cell attachment
• Immobilized cells – more rapid rate of colonization and
reduces risks of inoculums “wash-out”
• Localized availability of inoculum, nutrients leachate
from the beads onto the surface and stable micro-
environment
• Beneficial in increasing the rate of colonization
• Beads and inoculum shelf-life can be increased by
freeze drying technique
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13. Future research
• Further research - incorporate the growth of other
suitable microorganisms
• Create an adaptable mixed culture of inoculums for
the treatment of more complex odours coming from
modern industrial processes
• Development of a ready-to-go freeze dried
immobilized-cells to be used as an effective and rapid
biofilter re-seeding methodology
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14. Conclusion
• Feasibility of producing viable alginate bead
immobilized-cells
• Suitable for promoting rapid colonization on pumice
• Potential use of selectively tailored inoculums in
biofiltration systems
• Beneficial in optimizing and maximizing biofilter
performance within a short time frame
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15. References
1. Chen, D. Z., Fang, J. Y., Shao, Q., Ye, J. X., Ouyang, D. J., & Chen, J. M. Biodegradation of tetrahydrofuran by
Pseudomonas oleovorans DT4 immobilized in calcium alginate beads impregnated with activated carbon fiber:
Mass transfer effect and continuous treatment. Bioresource Technology, (2013). 139: 87-93.
2. Galera, M. M., Cho, E., Tuuguu, E., Park, S. J., Lee, C., & Chung, W. J. Effects of pollutant concentration ratio on
the simultaneous removal of NH3, H2S and toluene gases using rock wool-compost biofilter. Journal of
Hazardous Materials, (2008). 152: 624-631.
3. Karunakaran, E. & Biggs, C. A. Mechanisms of Bacillus cereus biofilm formation: an investigation of the
physicochemical characteristics of cell surfaces and extracellular proteins. Applied microbiology and
biotechnology, (2011). 89: 1161-1175.
4. Lee, K. Y. & Mooney, D. J. Alginate: properties and biomedical applications. Progress in Polymer Science,
(2012). 37: 106-126.
5. Lin, Q., Wen, D., & Wang, J. Biodegradation of pyridine by Paracoccus sp. KT-5 immobilized on bamboo-based
activated carbon. Bioresource Technology, (2010). 101: 5229-5234.
6. Nanda, S., Sarangi, P.K. & Abraham, J. Microbial biofiltration technology for odour abatement. International
Research Journal of Microbiology, (2011). 2: 415-422.
7. Sanjeevkumar, S., Nayak, A. S., Santoshkumar, M., Siddavattam, D. & Karegoudar, T. B. Paracoccus denitrificans
SD1 mediated augmentation with indigenous mixed cultures for enhanced removal of N, N-dimethylformamide
from industrial effluents. Biochemical Engineering Journal, (2013). 79: 1-6.
8. Zarra, T., Giuliani, S., Naddeo, V., & Belgiorno, V. Control of odour emission in wastewater treatment plants by
direct and undirected measurement of odour emission capacity. Water Science & Technology, (2012). 66: 1627-
1633.
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16. Collaborators
• Odour Services International Limited (OSIL), U.K.
 Matt Wilkes, Dr. Corby Lee, Dr. Wan Li Low, Ben
Capewell
• University of Wolverhampton, U.K.
 Dr. David Hill and Dr. Clive Roberts
• Knowledge Transfer Partnership, U.K.
 Dr. Russ Bromley
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17. Clients using OSIL technologies
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18. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
FOR MORE INFO PLEASE VISIT
http://www.osiltd.com
EMAIL US AT info@osiltd.com
OR W.L.Low2@wlv.ac.uk
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