Evaluation of Immobilization of Selected Peat-Isolated Yeast Strains of the Species<i> Candida albicans</i> and <i>Candida subhashii</i> on the Surface of Artificial Support Materials Used for Biotrickling Filtration

• Main Authors: Milena Marycz, Anna Brillowska-Dąbrowska, Jacek Gębicki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-07-01
• Series: Processes
• Subjects: biotrickling filtration; fungi; polyurethane foam; Pall rings; Bialecki rings; <i>n</i>-butanol
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9717/8/7/801

The paper describes the process of <i>n</i>-butanol abatement by unicellular fungi, able to deplete n-butanol content in gas, by using <i>n</i>-butanol as source of carbon. Isolated and identified fungi species <i>Candida albicans</i> and <i>Candida subhashii</i> were subjected to a viability process via assimilation of carbon from hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds. The isolates, which exhibited the ability to assimilate carbon, were immobilized on four different types of artificial support materials used for biotrickling filtration. Application of optical microscopy, flow cytometry and the tests employing propidium iodide and annexin V revealed viability of the fungi isolated on support materials’ surfaces at the average level of 95%. The proposed method of immobilization and its evaluation appeared to be effective, cheap and fast. Based on performed comparative analyses, it was shown that polyurethane foam and Bialecki rings (25 × 25) could be attractive support materials in biotrickling filtration.