Degradation of chloroform by immobilized cells of Bacillus sp. in calcium alginate beads.

A Bacillus sp., capable of degrading chloroform, was immobilized in calcium alginate. The beads in 20 g alginate l(-1) (about 2 × 10(8) cells/bead) could be re-used nine times for degradation of chloroform at 40 μM. The immobilized cells had a higher range of tolerance (pH 6.5-9 and 20-41°C) than free cells (pH 7-8.5 and 28-32°C). At 5 g alginate l(-1), leakage of the cells from the beads was 0.51 mg dry wt ml(-1). This species is the first reported Bacillus that can degrade chloroform as the sole carbon source.