Abstract
The efficiency of the degradation of phenol in the presence of copper ion by immobilized cell was evaluated on the basis of the dynamic behavior of permeation of phenol and copper ion into gel bead. As a result of measuring concentration distribution of phenol and copper ion in the gel bead, it was found that the region where cell growth was not inhibited existed in the center part of the gel bead due to the low concentration of copper ion, and the cells could degrade phenol relatively easily in that region. The immobilized cell degraded phenol almost completely under fairly high concentration of copper ion, i.e. 1-10 mg/l. The mathematical model was presented for representing cell growth and phenol degradation in the gel bead, and the calculated values were verified experimentally in a batch treatment. It was suggested that the immobilized cell could degrade phenol in the presence of copper ion not only in a batch treatment but also in a continuous treatment.
