Improving immobilized biocatalysts by gel phase polymerization

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · Biotechnol. Bioeng.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.260250810· OSTI ID:5366693

Kuu, W Y; Polack, J A

A new method is presented for the treatment of gel-type supports, used for immobilizing microbial cells and enzymes, to obtain high mechanical strength. It is particularly useful for ethanol fermentation over gel beads containing immobilized viable cells, where the beads can be ruptured by gas production and the growth of cells within the gels. This method consists of treating agar or carrageenan gel with polyacrylamide to form a rigid support which retains the high catalytic activity characteristic of the untreated biocatalysts. The size and shape of the biocatalyst is unaffected by this treatment. The method involves the diffusion of acrylamide, N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide and ..beta..-dimethylaminopropionitrile (or N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine) into the preformed biocatalyst beads followed by the addition of an initiator to cause polymerization within the beads. Treated gels have been used for the continuous fermentation of glucose to ethanol in a packed column for over two months. During this operation, the gel beads maintained their rigidity, and the maximum productivity was as high as 50 gh/sup -1/ L/sup -1/ gel. There was no appreciable decay of cell activity.

• Research Organization: Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803
• OSTI ID: 5366693
• Journal Information: Biotechnol. Bioeng.; (United States), Journal Name: Biotechnol. Bioeng.; (United States) Vol. XXV:8; ISSN BIBIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ACRYLAMIDE
AGAR
ALCOHOLS
AMIDES
BIOCONVERSION
CARBOHYDRATES
CATALYST SUPPORTS
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ETHANOL
FERMENTATION
GELS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IMMOBILIZED CELLS
IMMOBILIZED ENZYMES
OPTIMIZATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
POLYAMIDES
POLYMERIZATION
POLYMERS
POLYSACCHARIDES
SACCHARIDES