• KSBB Journal
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.412-417
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• 2003

We first investigated basic characteristics of reticulated polyurethane (PU) foams as microbial carriers. In general, the specific surface area of PU foams increases with respect to decreasing pore sizes. However, the number of microbes adhered on the unit surface of reticulated PU foams decreases with respect to decreasing pore sizes. Thus, as a result of totally considering all effects such as apparent density, hydrolysis rate, and adhesion, we can know that PU foams with 45 PPI is the most appropriate microbial carrier. In this study, we can also investigate the effect of various physico-chemical surface treatments on the adhesion of microbes on the surface of PU foams. We used a chitosan treatment, a PEI (Polyethylene Imine) treatment, a xanthane treatment and a plasma treatment. As a result of comparing all surface treatments, the plasma surface treatment was the best.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.354-361
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• 2009

This study was carried out to develop an effective biocarrier-mediated bioaugmentation technology which will be useful for remediation of the crude oil-contaminated marine sediments. Enrichment of several microbial communities was made from several oil-polluted seashore sites and the two distinctively functional consortia have been successfully selected. These two consortia were grown together and used to manufacture the microbial agents for bioaugmentation of marine sediments polluted with crude oil. The most dominant species in the mixed culture was identified as Alcanivorax borkumensis based on pure culture and DGGE analysis. Bioaugmentation of oil-polluted marine sediments with the microbial agent MA-2 formulated using the mixed culture and biocarriers (activated carbon and minerals) was more effective, especially in combination with an oxygen producing (releasing) compound (ORC). Ninty percent of TPH was removed in the presence of ORC in 35 days while 74% in the absence of ORC. This indicated that the indigenous consortial degraders could be immobilized on the active carbon as a biocarrier to manufacture microbial agents and then effectively bioaugmented for remediation of the oil-polluted sediments.