Comparative effect of bioformulation and immobilization on bacterial cell viability under different storage conditions

Abstract

This paper presents isolation and characterization of BaP degrading bacterial isolates and different bacterial entrapment methods (bioformulation and immobilization) to enhance their shelf life. Bacteria were isolated from coal tar contaminated sites and their BaP degrading efficiency was checked. Most potent bacterium i.e. 4d was biochemically characterized and immobilized using alginate beads and bio-formulation was prepared by using talc and charcoal and kept at 25° C and 4°C for two months. Bacterium was subjected to serial dilution followed by spread plate method at subsequent intervals of 7th, 14th, 21st, 30th, 45th and 60th day to observe the CFU count. The bacterium immobilized in alginate beads was found to be most viable when kept in 4°C though the bacterium was also fairly viable in all other storage conditions. Further studies are required to assess the activity of the bacterium at BaP polluted site.