· PREVENTS WASHOUT OF BIOMASS

· IT IS EASIER TO OPERATE IMMOBILIZED REACTORS (IN SUSPENDED GROWTH REACTORS, YOU MUST SEPARATE THE BIOMASS

FROM THE WATER WHEN THE PROCESS IS FINISHED. THIS IS NOT NECESSARY IN IMMOBILIZED BIOREACTORS.)

· MORE BIOMASS CAN BE PRODUCED PER VOLUME OF REACTOR

· CELLS LIVE FOR A MUCH GREATER PERIOD OF TIME

· IS MORE RESISTANT TO TOXIC LOADING SINCE MOST OF THE BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY TAKES PLACE ON THE SURFACE, WHICH

BUFFERS MOST OF THE MICROORGANISMS FROM THE SHOCK OF THE TOXIC SUBSTANCES

· MANY USEFUL MICROORGANISMS WILL GROW WELL WHEN IMMOBILIZED, BUT NOT IN SUSPENDED REACTORS.

· HIGHER RATES OF DEGRADATION (REDUCTION OF TOXIC COMPONENTS IN THE SYSTEM) ARE POSSIBLE

· ALLOWS FOR LARGER MICROBIAL DIVERSITY

· IT IS POSSIBLE TO CONTINUALLY REMOVE REACTION INHIBITORS FOR A SPECIFIC BIOMASS

· COULD PROVIDE A MORE STABLE GENE POOL AND ENHANCED RATES OF GENETIC TRANSFER

· MOST IMMOBILIZED REACTORS ARE CLOSED SYSTEMS. THEREFORE, THEY MINIMIZE EMMISIONS OF TOXIC VAPORS.

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