Impact of the Cell Wall on Cyanide Biodegradation in the Model of the Respiratory Mechanism

Abstract

Based on the general model of the respiratory mechanism of cyanide degradation by microorganisms, we introduce the impact of the cell wall on the degradation process under the conditions with and without the initial short-term pulsed electric field treatment. The research is conducted using non-linear phenomenological equations, and the solution approximation is obtained. Theoretical and experimental data are compared, and they are in good agreement. We demonstrate that the initial short-term pulsed electric field treatment increases the permeability of cyanide through the cell wall, as well as the rate of activation of the respiratory chains. The steady-state solutions and the maximum rate of cyanide addition are derived under the conditions that cyanide is continuously added to the solution with bacteria, and there is no initial pulsed electric field treatment.