| Abstract: | The feasibility of using hollow fiber membrane dialyzers (C-DAK) for immobilization of microbial whole cells was investigated. The cells are located on the shell side of the dialyzer, while substrates and products are free to diffuse across the hollow fiber membranes. The biochemical reaction studied was the conversion of L -histidine to urocanic acid and catalyzed by L -histidine ammonia-lyase. C-DAK dialyzers containing a heat-treated suspension of Pseudomonas fluorescens ATCC 11299b (with L -histidine ammonia–lyase activity) were incorporated into constant volume recycle reactor systems for continuous product formation. A simple model successfully correlated the data and predicted performance. It was found that the reaction was not likely to be diffusion limited, and such a cell immobilization scheme is convenient and workable for continuous production of biochemicals. |
