Immobilized cell technology is a method of air filtration and purification that uses

whole cell immobilization The immobilized whole cell system is an alternative to enzyme immobilization. Unlike enzyme immobilization, where the enzyme is attached to a solid support (such as calcium alginate or activated PVA or activated PEI), in immobilized whole cell syste ...

. It is a process whereby microfine particulate matter is removed from the air by attracting charged particulates in the air to a bio-reactive mass, or

bioreactor A bioreactor refers to any manufactured device or system that supports a biologically active environment. In one case, a bioreactor is a vessel in which a chemical reaction, chemical process is carried out which involves organisms or biochemistry, ...

, which enzymatically renders them inert.

Mechanism

Almost all airborne particulate matter carries a charge, either negative or positive. As air moves through an immobilized cell technology system, those charged particles are attracted to a water cascade, that functions as neutral ground, and that pulls the particulates into the bioreactor. (These airborne particulates consist of inert materials ust, pollen, etc.">pollen.html" ;"title="ust, pollen">ust, pollen, etc. volatile organic compounds, and hazardous air pollutants.) Once inside the bioreactor, the particulates are Oxidation, oxidized in a solution of water, enzymes, and bacteria breaking them down into base elements. Oxidation through immobilized cell technology is 12 times more efficient than natural oxidation is under the same conditions. The key difference between traditional air filtration systems and those that employ immobilized cell technology is that the latter does not employ mesh filters. It requires water, electrical power, and biomass for the bioreactor. The base, inert, elements it produces need to be removed periodically.

References

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