Development and testing of a 3D-printable polylactic acid device to optimize a water bioremediation process.

In the present work, a remediation bioprocess based on the use of a native isolate of Chlorella vulgaris immobilized in an alginate matrix inside a polylactic acid (PLA) device is proposed. This microalga immobilized in alginate beads was previously shown to be useful for the reduction of several chemical and microbial contaminants present in the highly polluted water from the Matanza-Riachuelo watershed. However, these beads had a relatively short shelf life in the natural environment.