Apparatus and method for the production of gel beads containing a biocatalyst
Abstract
An apparatus and method are disclosed for the large-scale and continuous production of gel beads containing a biocatalyst. The apparatus is a columnar system based on the chemical cross-linking of hydrocolloidal gels that contain and immobilize a biocatalyst, the biocatalyst being a microorganism or an enzyme. Hydrocolloidal gels, such as alginate, carrageenan, and a mixture of bone gelatin and modified alginate, provide immobilization matrices that can be used to entrap and retain the biocatalyst while allowing effective contact with substrates and release of products. Such immobilized biocatalysts are generally formulated into small spheres or beads that have high concentrations of the biocatalyst within the gel matrix. The columnar system includes a gel dispersion nozzle submerged in a heated non-interacting liquid, typically an organic liquid, that is immiscible with water to allow efficient formation of spherical gel droplets, the non-interacting liquid having a specific gravity that is less than water so that the gel droplets will fall through the liquid by the force of gravity. The heated non-interacting liquid is in direct contact with a chilled upflowing non-interacting liquid that will provide sufficient residence time for the gel droplets as they fall through the liquid so that they will be cooledmore »
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 570394
- Patent Number(s):
- 5712212
- Application Number:
- PAN: 8-401,054
- Assignee:
- Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc., Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 27 Jan 1998
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE, BASIC STUDIES; CATALYSTS; IMMOBILIZED CELLS; IMMOBILIZED ENZYMES; GELS; CHEMICAL PREPARATION; CHEMICAL REACTORS; OPERATION
Citation Formats
Scott, C D, Scott, T C, and Davison, B H. Apparatus and method for the production of gel beads containing a biocatalyst. United States: N. p., 1998.
Web.
Scott, C D, Scott, T C, & Davison, B H. Apparatus and method for the production of gel beads containing a biocatalyst. United States.
Scott, C D, Scott, T C, and Davison, B H. Tue .
"Apparatus and method for the production of gel beads containing a biocatalyst". United States.
@article{osti_570394,
title = {Apparatus and method for the production of gel beads containing a biocatalyst},
author = {Scott, C D and Scott, T C and Davison, B H},
abstractNote = {An apparatus and method are disclosed for the large-scale and continuous production of gel beads containing a biocatalyst. The apparatus is a columnar system based on the chemical cross-linking of hydrocolloidal gels that contain and immobilize a biocatalyst, the biocatalyst being a microorganism or an enzyme. Hydrocolloidal gels, such as alginate, carrageenan, and a mixture of bone gelatin and modified alginate, provide immobilization matrices that can be used to entrap and retain the biocatalyst while allowing effective contact with substrates and release of products. Such immobilized biocatalysts are generally formulated into small spheres or beads that have high concentrations of the biocatalyst within the gel matrix. The columnar system includes a gel dispersion nozzle submerged in a heated non-interacting liquid, typically an organic liquid, that is immiscible with water to allow efficient formation of spherical gel droplets, the non-interacting liquid having a specific gravity that is less than water so that the gel droplets will fall through the liquid by the force of gravity. The heated non-interacting liquid is in direct contact with a chilled upflowing non-interacting liquid that will provide sufficient residence time for the gel droplets as they fall through the liquid so that they will be cooled below the gelling temperature and form solid spheres. The upflowing non-interacting liquid is in direct contact with an upflowing temperature-controlled aqueous solution containing the necessary chemicals for cross-linking or fixing of the gel beads to add the necessary stability. The flow rates of the two liquid streams can be varied to control the proper residence time in each liquid section to accommodate the production of gel beads of differing settling velocities. A valve is provided for continuous removal of the stabilized gel beads from the bottom of the column. 1 fig.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 27 00:00:00 EST 1998},
month = {Tue Jan 27 00:00:00 EST 1998}
}