Advanced Technologies for Bacterial Cell Encapsulation for Water Treatment

Encapsulation of whole bacterial cells using advanced technologies for water treatment is the objective of this cooperative research project. The use of electrospun polymeric microtubes by the Technion group and sol-gel ceramics by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf group are being investigated to encapsulate whole bacteria cells for two test cases, 1) encapsulation of Pseudomonas sp. ADP for atrazine (herbicide) removal, and 2) encapsulation of cell isolates of Bacillus spec. B5T for toxic metal removal. The project will advance new bacterial immobilization technologies for more efficient and cost effective bioremediation processes.