Immobilization method The seed cultures of S diastaticus
(1.5 g dry weight) and Z. mobilis (0.5 g dry weight) which were
grown to their exponential phase in their respective medium, were
harvested by centrifugation at 1000xg for 10min, suspended in
sterile 0.1% (w/v) NaCI and immobilized in 3.5% (w/v) sodium
alginate according to an established protocol (14). Then for complete
gelation, the gel beads were kept at 5°C for 60 rain and then
washed with sterile distilled water and stored in their respective
medium at 5°C until use.