A team of Russian scientists has developed a special protection for microorganisms used in the treatment of industrial wastewater from the toxic substances contained in them that reduce the efficiency of the filters, the press service of the Ministry of Education and Russian science.
Purification of industrial wastewater containing substances harmful to the environment is solved by special methods, the most economical and environmentally friendly of which is the use of harmful substances with the help of microorganisms. However, prolonged exposure to toxic substances in these effluents reduces the activity of these living systems.
A team of Russian scientists, which included employees of the youth laboratory and the Department of Biotechnology of Tula State University (TulSU) and chemists from the Institute of Organic Synthesis that bears his name. I.Yeah. Postovsky (IOS) Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, found a solution to this problem.
A protective layer of silicon hydrogel has been developed for yeast fungi, which effectively break down toxins dangerous to humans, but at the same time suffer from exposure to heavy metal ions and ultraviolet radiation.
The researchers found a clue in diatoms, single-celled organisms that, in the process of evolution, learned to create mineralized layers on their surface made of silicon dioxide (silica) and bioorganic molecules to protect their species from harsh environmental factors.
TulSU scientists learned how to package microorganisms in artificial silica coatings in 2015, but it later turned out that the silica coating reduced their viability.
IOS UB RAS chemists helped the tulanos to synthesize hybrid molecules of silicon dioxide and an organic polymer, which were called silicon polyethylene glycolates. By interacting with the components of the cell walls of microorganisms and water, these molecules form nanocomposites-hydrogels containing silica on the cell surface.
The head of the scientific group, Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Head of the Department of Biotechnology Olga Ponamoreva explained:
“The organosilicate layers formed on the surface of methylotrophic yeast create a comfortable habitat for the packed cells, on the one hand, and protect living microorganisms from environmental stressors (heavy metal ions, ultraviolet radiation), on the other. side”..
He said that this live cell encapsulation technology will find application not only in industrial wastewater treatment, but also in the development of new biocatalysts for biotech industries. It can be easily adapted for cryopreservation of cells or the creation of artificial organs and tissues.
Biofilters based on the developed biocatalysts demonstrate efficient utilization of methanol in model wastewater. According to the experimental data, the degree of purification of methanol was higher than 60%.
The scientists presented the results of the study in the article “Silica gel and polyethylene glycol-based biocompatible composites for microbial cell immobilization by sol-gel synthesis,” published in the journal Polymers.
Source: Rossa Primavera
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.