Immobilization of microorganisms

The immobilization of microorganisms to Cell-Tak protein was monitored microscopically. Figures 3, 4, and 5 show the sparse attachment to plastic... 

Immobilization and mobilization of microorganisms and solvents. The adsorption of solvents to microorganisms can be reduced if the contact is decreased. For instance, immobilization of microorganisms or solvents minimizes the contact. An immobilization and reduction of toxicity was shown if adsorption materials were added. ... 

Immobilized system the air circulates over a film of microorganisms that grows on a solid surface. In an immobilized bioreactor, particulate biocatalysts for enzyme production and conversion of penicillin to 6-aminopenicillanic acid are used. 

For most applications, enzymes are purified after isolation from various types of organisms and microorganisms. Unfortunately, for process application, they are then usually quite unstable and highly sensitive to reaction conditions, which results in their short operational hfetimes. Moreover, while used in chemical transformations performed in water, most enzymes operate under homogeneous catalysis conditions and, as a rule, cannot be recovered in the active form from reaction mixtures for reuse. A common approach to overcome these limitations is based on immobilization of enzymes on solid supports. As a result of such an operation, heterogeneous biocatalysts, both for the aqueous and nonaqueous procedures, are obtained. 

In order to extend the biocatalytic activities of the biotransformation processes and reduce the frequency of producing cell mass and undesirable side products, immobilized-cell technology has been successfully applied to the whole-cell biotransformation processes. In addition to the three commercial immobilized whole-cell biotransformation processes shown in Table 10.1, examples of immobilization of three different microorganisms for whole-cell biotransformations are shown below to demonstrate the broad application of the immobilized whole-cell biotransformation processes. 

Whole cell immobilization was defined by Karel et al. [35] as, the physical confinement or localization of intact cells to a certain region of space with preservation of some desired catalytic activity or by Anderson [36] as, there is a physical confinement or localization of microorganisms that permits their economic... 

Immobilization on solid matrix by adsorption on ion exchange material or binding via lecitin is widely used for chemotrophic bacteria [Jack, Zajic, 1977] but not reported for photosynthetic microorganisms. In these matrixes a direct contact of microorganisms with medium was possible. However, matrixes and ion exchange material for immobilization of photosynthetic microorganisms should be transparent or translucent. 

A. A. Tsygankov, A. S. Fedorov, I. V. Talipova, T. V. Laurinavichene, J. Miyake, I. N. Gogotov (1998) Use of immobilized phototrophic microorganisms for waste water treatment and simultaneous production of hydrogen. Appl. Biochem. Microbiol. (Russ), 34 398-402... 

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