Abstract
Indigenous isolated bacterium Aeromonas sp. was immobilized in calcium alginate and the related immobilization parameters
like bead diameter, inoculum size and the initial phenol concentration required for biodegradation were determined. The
biodegradation activity was most efficient with 4 mm calcium alginate beads. The optimal immobilized biomass required was
about 28 109 cells/mL. Compared with free-cell suspensions, the alginate matrix used for immobilization of cells provided better
environment for the biodegradation of high phenol concentrations probably due to its protective effect. The alginate immobilized
cells provided remarkable performance in experiments using elevated phenol concentrations.