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Biocatalysis and enzyme technology represent significant research topics of contemporary biotechnology. The immobilisation of these catalysts on or in static supports serves the purpose of transforming the catalyst into a particle that can be handled through effortless mechanical operations, while the entrapment within a membrane or capsule leads to the restraint of the enzyme to a distinct space. This confinement leads to a catalyst with a superior stability, and cell durability under reaction conditions. Epoxide hydrolase is a widely available co-factor independent enzyme, which is known to have remarkable chemio-, regio- and stereoselectivity for a wide range of substrates. Recently it was found that certain yeasts, including Rhodosporidium toruloides, contain this enzyme and are able to enantioselectively catalyse certain hydrolysis reactions. The objective of this project was four-sided: a) to immobilise Rhodospridium toruloides in an optimised immobilisation matrix (calcium alginate beads), for the kinetic resolution of 1.2- epoxyoctane in order to obtain an optically pure epoxide and its corresponding vicinal diol, b) to determine the effect of immobilisation on activity as well as stability of the enzyme and gain better understanding of the parameters that influence enzyme activity in a support, c) to determine the effect of formulation parameters on some of the bead characteristics and, d) to gain some insight in the distribution of epoxide and diol in the water and bead phases and the formulation parameters that have an effect thereon. Rhodospridium toruloides was immobilised in calcium alginate beads consisting of different combinations of alginate and CaCl2 concentrations. Best results were obtained with a combination of 0,5 % (m/v) alginate and 0,2 M CaC12. The immobilised cells exhibited lower initial activity. but more than 40 times the residual activity of that of the free cells after a 12-hour storage period. Both the immobilised and free cells exhibited an increase in reaction rate (V) with an increase in substrate concentration. An increase in the alginate concentration lead to the formation of smaller beads, but a decrease in enzume activity, while an increase in the CaCl2 solution concentration had no effect on bead diameter or enzyme activity. Epoxide diffused preferentially into the beads (± 96 %), and the diol into the water phase, which leads to the natural separation of the epoxide and the diol. The CaCl2 concentration affected epoxide diffusion with no effect on diol diffusion, which opens up the possibility to regulate the diffusion of epoxide into the beads. Although only a very small fraction of the epoxide inside the beads could be extracted, the alginate proved to be chirally selective for the (R)-epoxide, improving the reaction efficiency by increasing the % ee, of the epoxide extracted from the beads between 26 % and 43 %. The possibility to develop a system where the product is formed, purified and concentrated in a one-step reaction by extracting the product from the bead phase was clearly demonstrated. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharm.) (Pharmaceutical Chemistry))--Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 2003.

Biodegradation is the breakdown of a compound by a biological organism. Over the past few decades, the biodegradation of compounds such as phenol has been researched extensively. Phenol research has shown that certain organisms are capable of utilising it as an energy source, and a variety of methods are available for its removal. Unfortunately, there is lack of research on phenol degradation at low concentrations. The majority of research performed on phenol degradation has used concentrations above 500 mg, while phenol is highly toxic at levels below 25 mg. The aim of this research was to pursue the problem of phenol degradation at below 100 mg and develop a system able to degrade phenol at such levels. The system consisted of a bioreactor developed to run in continuous mode, using Ps. putida immobilised in calcium alginate. A standard method was modified to quantitatively analyze effluent phenol levels, and a medium designed to increase the longevity of calcium alginate beads in continuous culture. A continuous flow bioreactor was also designed using an overflow weir for use with immobilised cells. Based on the results obtained, immobilisation offers increased stability and increased protection for cells under extreme conditions and is able to use higher dilution rates than cells under continuous culture / Master of Science (Hons)

Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharm.) (Pharmaceutical Chemistry))--Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 2003.

Biocatalysis and enzyme technology represent significant research topics of contemporary biotechnology. The immobilisation of these catalysts on or in static supports serves the purpose of transforming the catalyst into a particle that can be handled through effortless mechanical operations, while the entrapment within a membrane or capsule leads to the restraint of the enzyme to a distinct space. This confinement leads to a catalyst with a superior stability, and cell durability under reaction conditions. Epoxide hydrolase is a widely available co-factor independent enzyme, which is known to have remarkable chemio-, regio- and stereoselectivity for a wide range of substrates. Recently it was found that certain yeasts, including Rhodosporidium toruloides, contain this enzyme and are able to enantioselectively catalyse certain hydrolysis reactions. The objective of this project was four-sided: a) to immobilise Rhodospridium toruloides in an optimised immobilisation matrix (calcium alginate beads), for the kinetic resolution of 1.2- epoxyoctane in order to obtain an optically pure epoxide and its corresponding vicinal diol, b) to determine the effect of immobilisation on activity as well as stability of the enzyme and gain better understanding of the parameters that influence enzyme activity in a support, c) to determine the effect of formulation parameters on some of the bead characteristics and, d) to gain some insight in the distribution of epoxide and diol in the water and bead phases and the formulation parameters that have an effect thereon. Rhodospridium toruloides was immobilised in calcium alginate beads consisting of different combinations of alginate and CaCl2 concentrations. Best results were obtained with a combination of 0,5 % (m/v) alginate and 0,2 M CaC12. The immobilised cells exhibited lower initial activity. but more than 40 times the residual activity of that of the free cells after a 12-hour storage period. Both the immobilised and free cells exhibited an increase in reaction rate (V) with an increase in substrate concentration. An increase in the alginate concentration lead to the formation of smaller beads, but a decrease in enzume activity, while an increase in the CaCl2 solution concentration had no effect on bead diameter or enzyme activity. Epoxide diffused preferentially into the beads (± 96 %), and the diol into the water phase, which leads to the natural separation of the epoxide and the diol. The CaCl2 concentration affected epoxide diffusion with no effect on diol diffusion, which opens up the possibility to regulate the diffusion of epoxide into the beads. Although only a very small fraction of the epoxide inside the beads could be extracted, the alginate proved to be chirally selective for the (R)-epoxide, improving the reaction efficiency by increasing the % ee, of the epoxide extracted from the beads between 26 % and 43 %. The possibility to develop a system where the product is formed, purified and concentrated in a one-step reaction by extracting the product from the bead phase was clearly demonstrated. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharm.) (Pharmaceutical Chemistry))--Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 2003.

Polymeric excipients are generally the least well-characterized components of pharmaceutical formulations. The aim of this dissertation work is to facilitate the quality-by-design (QbD) approach to pharmaceutical formulation and manufacturing by evaluating the inter-grade and inter-batch variability of pharmaceutical-grade polymeric excipients. Sodium alginate, a widely used polymeric excipient, was selected for evaluation using appropriate analytical methods and test conditions, especially rheological methods. The materials used were six different grades of sodium alginate and an additional ten batches of one of the grades. <br>To compare the six grades, steady shear measurements were conducted on solutions at 1, 2, and 3% w/w, consistent with their use as thickening or binding agents. Small amplitude oscillation (SAO) measurements were conducted on sodium alginate solutions at higher concentrations (4-13% w/w) corresponding to their use in controlled release matrices. In order to compare the ten batches of one grade, steady shear and SAO measurements were performed on their solutions at 2% w/w and 8% w/w, respectively. Results show that rheological properties of sodium alginate solutions are influenced by both molecular weight and chemical composition of sodium alginate. ¡§One-point¡¨ apparent viscosity data obtained at one low concentration and one shear rate is not representative of the complex rheological behavior of various grades of sodium alginate solutions at higher concentrations or other shear rates. The potential interchangeability of these different grades used as thickening or binding agents could be established by comparing the apparent viscosities of their solutions as a function of both alginate concentration and shear conditions. For sodium alginate used in controlled release formulations, both steady shear (at one low concentration, e.g., 2% w/w) and SAO measurements (at one high concentration indicative of polymer gel state, e.g., 8% w/w) are recommended to be performed on sodium alginate solutions to ensure interchangeability. Furthermore, among batches of the same grade, significant differences in rheological properties were observed, especially at the high solution concentration (i.e., 8% w/w). In summary, inter-grade and inter-batch variability of sodium alginate can be determined using steady shear and SAO methods. <br>The influence of inter-grade and inter-batch variability of sodium alginate on the functionality of sodium alginate used in matrix tablets was investigated with a focus on compression properties, swelling, erosion behavior of alginate matrix tablets, and drug release from matrix tablets. The compression behavior of four grades and three batches of sodium alginate were studied by compaction energetics, out-of-die Gurnham, and out-of-die Heckel analysis. It was found that sodium alginates deform less plastically than microcrystalline cellulose (MCC PH102) but similar to lactose anhydrous. Sodium alginates also demonstrate more elastic deformations during compression than both MCC PH102 and lactose anhydrous. Compacts prepared from multiple batches of the same grade varied in porosity. The same tensile strength of compacts can be achieved by compressing the multiple batches to the same porosity. <br>Sodium alginate tablets undergo both swelling and erosion in water. Grades with substantially higher apparent viscosities at low solution concentration exhibit a higher percentage of water uptake and a low percentage of erosion. Those batches not significantly different in their apparent viscosities at low solution concentration but significantly different in viscoelasticity at high solution concentrations do demonstrate significant differences in their swelling and erosion behavior. Acetaminophen release from sodium alginate matrix tablets prepared from the four grades and three batches can be well described by a zero-order equation. Significant differences in release profile were observed among various grades and batches. <br>In conclusion, the inter-grade and inter-batch variability of sodium alginate has a significant influence on the swelling, erosion, and drug release behavior of sodium alginate matrix tablets. Apparent viscosities of sodium alginate solution at low concentration alone are not sufficient to predict the functionality of sodium alginate used in matrix tablets. Viscoelastic properties of sodium alginate solutions at high concentrations indicative of polymer gel state are appropriate to be characterized. <br>Further study was conducted to determine whether sodium alginate solutions¡&brkbar; rheological parameters are relevant to sodium alginate¡&brkbar;s use in the formulation of calcium alginate gels. Among the grades with similar guluronic acid percentage (%G), there is a significant correlation between gel fracture force and apparent viscosity. However, the results for the partial correlation analysis for all six grades of sodium alginate show that gel fracture force is significantly correlated with %G, but not with the rheological properties of the sodium alginate solutions. Studies of the ten batches of one grade of sodium alginate show that apparent viscosities of their solutions do not correlate with gel fracture force while tan <em>f</em>Ô values are significantly, but minimally, correlated to gel fracture force. Inter-batch differences in the rheological behavior for one specific grade of sodium alginate are insufficient to predict the corresponding calcium alginate gel's mechanical properties. <br>In summary, rheological methods, including steady shear and small amplitude oscillation, are able to identify the inter-grade and inter-batch variability of sodium alginate. Inter-grade and inter-batch variability of sodium alginate could lead to substantial differences in the functionality of sodium alginate in matrix tablets and in calcium alginate gels. Rheological properties of sodium alginate in solution are suggestive of its functionality as thickeners, or as controlled release agent. However, rheological properties of sodium alginate in solution do not seem to be sufficient to predict the mechanical properties of the corresponding calcium alginate gels. / Mylan School of Pharmacy and the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Pharmaceutics / PhD / Dissertation

Orientador: Carlos Renato Corso / Banca: Cassiana Maria Reganhan Coneglian / Banca: Sandra Mara Martins Franchetti / Resumo: Este trabalho apresenta uma avaliação comparativa do potencial biossortivo e biodegradativo da levedura Saccharomyces cerevisiae na remoção de corantes têxteis de efluentes quando imobilizada em alginato de cálcio e quando em célula livre. Para isto foram preparadas soluções experimentais dos corantes Acid Blue 40 e Acid Red 151, com concentrações equivalentes a 100 μg/mL e a estas foram adicionadas esferas com a levedura imobilizada a partir de uma suspensão 10% e gotas de células livres a partir de uma suspensão 2%. Os testes comparativos de remoção dos corantes foram analisados através de espectrofotômetros Ultravioleta- Visível e Infravermelho com Transformada de Fourier, com os quais foi possível determinar a porcentagem de remoção dos corantes das soluções, os valores das Absorbâncias Relativas que revelaram se o processo predominante na descoloração foi o da biossorção e/ou biodegradação, a quantidade de biomassa em miligramas (peso seco) necessária para fazer a remoção total da cor e também determinar as alterações moleculares ocorridas nas estruturas dos corantes após os tratamentos. Os resultados mostraram que a maior porcentagem de descoloração alcançada para o Acid Blue 40 foi de 61,7% após 360 horas de tratamento com 20 esferas com a levedura imobilizada e para o Acid Red 151 foi de 81,9% após 216 horas de tratamento também com 20 esferas com o microrganismo imobilizado. Através dos valores das Absorbâncias Relativas foi possível verificar que o processo predominante na remoção da cor do Acid Blue 40 com 72 horas de tratamento com 10 e 20 esferas com Saccharomyces cerevisiae imobilizada foi o da biossorção seguido da biodegradação e para o Acid Red 151 com esse mesmo tempo de tratamento e com a mesma quantidade de biomassa imobilizada foi o da biodegradação. A quantidade de biomassa imobilizada e livre... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This paper presents a comparative assessment of the biodegradative and biosorptive potential of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in textile dyes removal of effluents when in immobilized alginate and in free cells. Therefore, experimental solutions were prepared with concentrations of the dye Acid Blue 40 and Acid Red 151 equivalent to 100 mg/mL and those were added with beads containing the immobilized yeast from a 10% suspension and drops of free cells from a 2 % suspension. Comparative tests of dye removal were analyzed by UV-Visible spectrometers and Infrared Fourier Transform on which it was possible to determine the percentage of dye removal from the solutions, the values of Relatives Absorbances that the discoloration have been proved to predominant by biosorption and / or biodegradation, the amount of biomass in milligrams (dry weight) required for a complete color removal and also to determine the molecular changes occurring in the dye structures after the treatment. The results showed that the highest decolorization percentage achieved for Acid Blue 40 was 61.7% after 360 hours of treatment with 20 immobilized yeast beads and for the Acid Red 151 it was 81.9% after 216 hours of treatment with 20 beads also with immobilized microorganism. Through the values of Relatives Absorbances it was concluded that the predominant process in dye removal of Acid Blue 40 in 72 hours of treatment with 10 and 20 beads containing imobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae was the biosorption followed by biodegradation and in Acid Red 151 with the same treatment time and the same amount of immobilized biomass it was the biodegradation. The amount of immobilized and free biomass to obtain total removal of Acid Blue 40 solution was 87 and 38 mg/mL, respectively, and to completely remove the Acid Red 151, the required amount of free and immobilized biomass was 64 and 2 mg/mL, respectively, which... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

<div>Fresh produce has been the leading source of foodborne illness outbreaks in the US, surpassing typical pathogen carriers such as meat, dairy, and seafood. Among the fresh produce popular to the consumers, cantaloupe and sprouts are mostly susceptible to pathogen contaminations and outbreaks. However, it has been a challenge to address the key factor in the contamination - the biofilms formed by pathogens are highly resistant to conventional washing and cleaning procedures. For cantaloupe, the net-like and porous surface forms a barrier for washing. For sprouts, the fragile texture of seedlings prevents aggressive cleaning operation and biofilm removal.</div><div><br></div><div>In this study, innovative interventions were developed to improve microbial safety of fresh produce, using cantaloupe and alfalfa sprouts as models. For cantaloupe, abrasive brushing was designed to remove pathogen biofilm from cantaloupe. Our research found pathogens could form biofilm at cantaloupe rind surface as the residence time of pathogens increased. Biofilm formed on cantaloupe rind was imaged by cryo-scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM), and its resistance to sodium hypochlorite and lauroyl arginate ethyl (LAE) was confirmed. Furthermore, abrasive brushing with peroxyacetic acid (PAA) could effectively remove biofilm formed at cantaloupe rind. The efficacy of this novel cleaning technique was highly desirable, which could achieve 3 log reduction in pathogen population. Mechanism of abrasive brushing to remove biofilm at cantaloupe rind surface was also proposed. Conceivably, brushing with diatomaceous earth (DE) and PAA could be an innovative and cost-effective method to remove pathogen biofilm from cantaloupe rind.</div><div><br></div><div>For alfalfa sprouts, since most of the outbreaks are linked to the sprouting seeds, seed disinfection treatments are considered to be the most effective method to improve microbial safety of sprouts. In this study, a newly developed alginate-based, antimicrobial seed coating treatment was evaluated for its efficacy to reduce foodborne pathogens from alfalfa seeds and sprouts. The calcium alginate coating in the presence of 2.5% lactic acid (CA-LA coating) reduced foodborne pathogens inoculated on alfalfa seeds to an undetectable level on day 1 during 28 day-seed storage, while chlorine (20,000 ppm) or lactic acid (2.5%) treatment took longer time to reach the same level. With sprouts, CA-LA coating resulted in > 2.5 log reduction for pathogen cells. In contrast, log reduction was < 0.6 for either chlorine (20,000 ppm) or lactic acid (2.5%) treatment. In general, this study indicated the effect of calcium alginate coating on reducing bacterial load of alfalfa seeds and sprouts, however, the germination rate of treated seeds was compromised due to the addition of lactic acid in the seed coating. Further study is needed to select antimicrobial compounds with minimum impact on germination rate of seeds.</div><div><br></div>

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / A biossorção é o termo aplicado à tecnologia de adsorção de íons metálicos em solução, por meio de materiais de natureza biológica inativa, comparável à adsorção utilizando-se adsorventes convencionais. A biossorção depende da temperatura, pH, concentração inicial do íon metálico, e tipo de biosorvente. O objetivo principal dessa dissertação é estudar e comparar os processos de adsorção de cobre iônico a partir de soluções aquosas utilizando Sargassum sp., alginato de cálcio úmido e desidratado e carvão ativo em pó e granular, em regime de batelada e contínuo. O alginato de cálcio foi preparado através de uma solução 4% (m/v) de alginato de sódio gotejada em solução 37% (m/v) de cloreto de cálcio dihidratado. O alginato de cálcio apresentou uma umidade de 89% após secagem em estufa a 100C por 24 horas. Os parâmetros da biossorção foram fixados em: a dose de adsorventes de 2 g/L; a temperatura em 30C; pH da solução em 5,0; e velocidade de rotação da chapa rotatória em 150 rpm. Para os estudos de cinética e equilíbrio, os ensaios foram feitos em regime de batelada. Nos ensaios cinéticos para duas concentrações medias (0,16 e 3,15 mmol/L) variou-se o tempo de contato (1 a 120 min) para se atingir o equilíbrio. Nos ensaios de equilíbrio variou-se as concentrações (0,16 a 15,72 mmol/L) utilizando o tempo de equilíbrio determinado nos ensaios cinéticos. Foram utilizadas duas modelagens cinéticas (a de pseudo-primeira ordem e a de segunda ordem) e duas modelagens do equilíbrio (Langmuir e Freundlich). O modelo cinético de segunda ordem ajustou melhor os resultados. O tempo de equilíbrio para adsorção do cobre foi de 60 minutos para Sargassum sp. e pellets de alginatos de cálcio úmido e desidratado. Para os carvões ativos os tempos de equilíbrio para a adsorção do cobre foram mais rápidos, mas a capacidade de remoção do cobre foram muito baixas. Com base nos resultados desfavoráveis obtidos para os carvões ativos eles foram descartados para se prosseguir com os ensaios de equilíbrio. A isoterma de Freundlich melhor ajusta os dados experimentais para Sargassum sp. e alginato de cálcio úmido. A capacidade de adsorção máxima calculada pelo modelo de Freundlich: na concentração de equilíbrio de 11,66 0,06 mmol/L foi de 1,97 0,07 mmol/g para Sargassum sp.; e na concentração de equilíbrio de 12,12 0,03 mmol/L foi de 1,69 0,04 mmol/g para alginato de cálcio úmido. O processo de biossorção em regime contínuo, com alturas de leito variável de 10 a 40 cm, teve melhor desempenho com a altura de 40 cm. Em regime de batelada, o desempenho da Sargassum sp. foi superior ao dos alginatos de cálcio (úmido melhor que o desidratado), que por sua vez foram superiores ao desempenho dos carvões ativos em pó e granular (em pó melhor que o granular). O sistema contínuo com concentração inicial de cobre de 8,5 mmol/L deve ser operado com altura de leito igual ou superior a 40 cm, ou com sistemas multicolunas para soluções mais concentradas / Biosorption is the term applied to the adsorption technology of metallic ions in solution than through materials of inactive biological nature. Its close to adsorption using conventional adsorbents. Biosorption depends on temperature, pH, initial concentration of metal ion and type of biosorbents. The main objective of this dissertation is to study and compare the adsorption of copper ions from aqueous solution in batch and continuous system using Sargassum sp.; wet and dehydrated calcium alginate; powder and granular activated carbon. Calcium alginate was prepared by 4% w/v sodium alginate solution dropwise into 37% w/v calcium chloride dehydrate. Calcium alginate presented 89% of moisture after dry in an oven at 100C for 24 hours. Biosorption parameters were set as follow: dose of adsorbent 2 g/L; temperature at 30C, pH at 5.0, and stirring speed of the rotating plate at 150 rpm. For the kinetic and equilibrium studies, the tests were done in a batch system. In kinetic assays for two concentrations (0.16 and 3.15 mmol/L) was varied contact time (1-120 min) to reach equilibrium. In equilibrium assays were varied concentrations (0.16 to 15.72 mmol/L) using the time determined in kinetic experiments. It was used two kinetic modeling (the pseudo-first-order and second-order) and two equilibrium modeling (Langmuir and Freundlich). The second-order kinetic model better fitted the results. The equilibrium time for adsorption of copper was 60 minutes for Sargassum sp. and wet and dehydrated calcium alginate pellets. For the activated carbon, equilibrium times for the adsorption of copper were obtained faster, but the capacity of copper removal were extremely low. Based on the unfavorable results obtained for the activated carbon they were discharged to proceed with tests of equilibrium. The Freundlich isotherm fitted the experimental data for Sargassum sp. and wet calcium alginate. The maximum adsorption capacity calculated using Freundlich model: at equilibrium concentration of 11.66 0.06 mmol/L was 1.97 0.07 mmol/g for Sargassum sp. and at equilibrium concentration of 12.12 0.03 mmol/L was 1.69 0.04 mmol/g for wet calcium alginate. Biosorption in a continuous system, with bed heights from 10 to 40 cm, had the best performance with a height of 40 cm. In a batch system, the performance of Sargassum sp. was higher than calcium alginate (wet rather than dehydrated), which in turn were higher than the performance of powder and granular active carbon (powder better than granular). The continuous system with initial copper concentration of 8.5 mmol/L, must be operated with a bed height equal or greater 40 cm, or with multicolumn systems for more concentrated solutions

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-03-29Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:31:32Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 rodrigues_hdp_me_rcla.pdf: 1125128 bytes, checksum: 8d675663432f7ca84bc84f1a57d6be8c (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Este trabalho apresenta uma avaliação comparativa do potencial biossortivo e biodegradativo da levedura Saccharomyces cerevisiae na remoção de corantes têxteis de efluentes quando imobilizada em alginato de cálcio e quando em célula livre. Para isto foram preparadas soluções experimentais dos corantes Acid Blue 40 e Acid Red 151, com concentrações equivalentes a 100 μg/mL e a estas foram adicionadas esferas com a levedura imobilizada a partir de uma suspensão 10% e gotas de células livres a partir de uma suspensão 2%. Os testes comparativos de remoção dos corantes foram analisados através de espectrofotômetros Ultravioleta- Visível e Infravermelho com Transformada de Fourier, com os quais foi possível determinar a porcentagem de remoção dos corantes das soluções, os valores das Absorbâncias Relativas que revelaram se o processo predominante na descoloração foi o da biossorção e/ou biodegradação, a quantidade de biomassa em miligramas (peso seco) necessária para fazer a remoção total da cor e também determinar as alterações moleculares ocorridas nas estruturas dos corantes após os tratamentos. Os resultados mostraram que a maior porcentagem de descoloração alcançada para o Acid Blue 40 foi de 61,7% após 360 horas de tratamento com 20 esferas com a levedura imobilizada e para o Acid Red 151 foi de 81,9% após 216 horas de tratamento também com 20 esferas com o microrganismo imobilizado. Através dos valores das Absorbâncias Relativas foi possível verificar que o processo predominante na remoção da cor do Acid Blue 40 com 72 horas de tratamento com 10 e 20 esferas com Saccharomyces cerevisiae imobilizada foi o da biossorção seguido da biodegradação e para o Acid Red 151 com esse mesmo tempo de tratamento e com a mesma quantidade de biomassa imobilizada foi o da biodegradação. A quantidade de biomassa imobilizada e livre... / This paper presents a comparative assessment of the biodegradative and biosorptive potential of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in textile dyes removal of effluents when in immobilized alginate and in free cells. Therefore, experimental solutions were prepared with concentrations of the dye Acid Blue 40 and Acid Red 151 equivalent to 100 mg/mL and those were added with beads containing the immobilized yeast from a 10% suspension and drops of free cells from a 2 % suspension. Comparative tests of dye removal were analyzed by UV-Visible spectrometers and Infrared Fourier Transform on which it was possible to determine the percentage of dye removal from the solutions, the values of Relatives Absorbances that the discoloration have been proved to predominant by biosorption and / or biodegradation, the amount of biomass in milligrams (dry weight) required for a complete color removal and also to determine the molecular changes occurring in the dye structures after the treatment. The results showed that the highest decolorization percentage achieved for Acid Blue 40 was 61.7% after 360 hours of treatment with 20 immobilized yeast beads and for the Acid Red 151 it was 81.9% after 216 hours of treatment with 20 beads also with immobilized microorganism. Through the values of Relatives Absorbances it was concluded that the predominant process in dye removal of Acid Blue 40 in 72 hours of treatment with 10 and 20 beads containing imobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae was the biosorption followed by biodegradation and in Acid Red 151 with the same treatment time and the same amount of immobilized biomass it was the biodegradation. The amount of immobilized and free biomass to obtain total removal of Acid Blue 40 solution was 87 and 38 mg/mL, respectively, and to completely remove the Acid Red 151, the required amount of free and immobilized biomass was 64 and 2 mg/mL, respectively, which... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)