Experimental biofilm and its application in malathion degradation.

Mixed bacterial culture consisting of three different strains of Micrococcus sp. (AG 36, AG 94 and AG 98) and two strains of Pseudomonas sp. (AG 7 and AG 52) and its individual components was passed through a sand column and 25.5-92% of cell dry mass was found to be retained (adsorbed) on it. Incubation of sand soaked in mineral medium containing glucose as a sole carbon source resulted in formation of a biofilm with 1.2-2.5-fold increase in biomass. A 61% degradation of malathion by the mixed culture biofilm could be achieved in 4 d.