TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian researchers from National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology used magnetite magnetic nanoparticles to separate desulfurization bacteria from the two-phase system of oil and water during a bio-desulfurization process and succeeded in the development of an effective technology to carry out the separation.


The results of the research have direct applications in the separation of various types of industrial microorganisms to be used again.

Among the objectives of the research, mention can be made of the use of magnetite magnetic nanoparticles to separate desulfurization bacteria in oil/water two-phase system through a bio-desulfurization process in specific, and to develop an effective technology for the separation and possibly the re-use of the cells in various applications.

Magnetite nanoparticles used in the research were 5-10 nm in size and they have superparamagnetic characteristics. After the stabilization of the nanoparticles on the cells, the compound of nanoparticles and cells can be separated from the mixture by using external magnetic field (a magnet).

High performance of magnetite magnetic nanoparticles for the separation of microbial cells and the lack of negative effect on desulfurization activity of the bacteria are among the achievements of the research. Magnetite magnetic nanoparticles are able to separate the bacteria to be used a few more times while they have very small toxic effect on the bacteria used in this research. Magnetic nanoparticles whose surface have been changed by glycine are absorbed on the surface homogenously and automatically.

By Fars News Agency

 

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