The biotechnology industry has demonstrated the advantages of
using enzymes and immobilised cells in industrial processes as well
as bioremediation. Immobilised cells and enzymes have been used
for the production of electricity, hydrogen, polysaccharides, glycerol,
and for removal of heavy metals (Hameed and Ebrahim 2007).
Hsieh et al. (2008) showed that immobilised bacterial cells are
more resistant to environmental burdens and more efficient at
degrading phenol compared to similar free-living cells.