Biogeosorbents for solving ecological problems

Among the variety of the ecotoxicants the petroleum products are the most environmentally dangerous, since the intensive migration of pollutants from them can occur because of the solubility of ionic components. Zeolites have high adsorption and cation exchange capacity and can be used as adsorbents for hydrocarbons polluting water bodies and soil. The disadvantage of their application is that after the adsorption of pollutants the secondary waste requiring costly disposal methods would be formed. Developing biogeosorbents via immobilization of petroleum oxidizing microorganisms on glauconites can provide the solution to the problem of immobilization of hydrocarbons polluting water bodies and soil. The obtaining zeolite-based biogeosorbents through immobilization, rather than freeze drying, solve the problem of sorbing material utilization, moreover, of increasing the efficiency cell retention, cell viability and extracellular enzyme activity. In extremely poor environmental conditions zeolite carrier provides transport of bacteria, allowing to exist in state suspended animation for up to 10 years. (paper)