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Reduction and separation of nitrate and nitrite by liquid membrane‐encapsulated enzymes
Author(s) -
Mohan Raam R.,
Li Norman N.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.260160407
Subject(s) - chemistry , membrane , pulmonary surfactant , chromatography , permeation , solubility , substrate (aquarium) , enzyme , nitrate , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , biochemistry , oceanography , engineering , geology
Purified enzymes encapsulated in liquid surfactant membranes have been shown to retain their catalytic activity. In general, previous work on encapsulation has been confined to single enzymes. The system has now been extended to encapsulate a bacterial cell‐free homogenate. Liquid membrane‐encapsulated bacterial cell‐free homogenate reduces effectively NO 3 − to NO 2 − and other nitrogen compounds of lower oxidation state. This technique of removing nitrates and nitrites may have application in waste‐water treatment. Also, it has been shown that encapsulated cell‐free homogenate does not leak and there is no absorption of the substrate onto the liquid surfactant membrane surfaces. The reduction in the reaction rates is discussed in terms of solubility of the substrate and the rate of permeation of the substrates through the liquid surfactant membrane.