Using a thread type of alginate gel particles as cell-immobilised support and some concept of packed bed fermenter design

A thread type of gel particles was studied for yeast-cell immobilisation, instead of the commonly used bead type. There was a better mass transfer of the gel particles using a thinner thread. In comparison with the bead type, the thread type has better shape structure in view of the packed-bed reactor design . At the same time, a continuous beer fermentation, using immobilised yeast in the thread type of gel particles, was carried out in a packed bed column fermenter. The study demonstrated that, the beer fermentation can be accelerated up to the hydraulic residence time of 1 day.