The chlorophyte strain Lobosphaera sp. IPPAS C-2047 served as the object in the present work. We tested chitosan-based polycationic polymeric materials obtained by cryopolymerization of chitosan with glutaraldehyde. These carriers which possess a high immobilization efficiency and supported the prolonged cultivation of immobilized MA without impairing their growth and photosynthetic activity.
Nutrient (nitrate nitrogen, Ni and orthophosphate, Pi) removal capacity of the chitosan-immobilized Lobosphaera cells was significantly higher than that of the suspended cells. The specific removal rates of Pi and Ni by the suspended MA cultivated without cross-linked chitosan polymers comprised 0.6 and 3.2 mg mg-1 Chl d-1, while the chitosan-immobilized MA consumed Pi and Ni at rates 1.3 and 4.5 mg mg-1 Chl d-1, respectively. During the 14-d experiment, the chitosan-based carries demonstrated a high mechanical and biological stability, but after 3 weeks of incubation the signs of polymer biodegradation were observed by electronic microscopy.