Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
Spring 5-31-1990
Degree Name
Master of Science in Environmental Science - (M.S.)
Department
Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Environmental Science
First Advisor
Samir S. Sofer
Second Advisor
Richard B. Trattner
Third Advisor
David Kafkewitz
Abstract
The performance of immobilized and free microorganisms in the biodegradation of polymers was investigated using a recirculation flow reactor and an air-sparged reactor respectively. The bio-oxidation ability of these microbes towards polyamide emulsion was studied.
Extracellular protein cuts isolated were checked for oxidative activity in a microassay reactor. These fractions were compared from various biodegradation studies.
Microassay tests and monitoring of the oxygen consumption in recirculation flow confirmed substrate dependent oxygen consumption, polyamide being provided as the sole carbon source. Increases in extracellular protein buildup were a positive indication of biodegradation.
The protein cut greater than 500,000 daltons was found to be the most active (highest specific activity) and catalase and oxidase were found to be two of the enzymes in the extracellular protein mix.
Recommended Citation
Godbole, Sunil S., "Biodegradation of polymers and isolation and crude characterization of proteins from these studies" (1990). Theses. 1352.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/1352
