Stabilization of kappa-carrageenan gel with polymeric amines: Use of immobilized cells as biocatalysts at elevated temperatures

Spherical beads of kappa-carrageenan containing entrapped cells were prepared in a two-step process. First, the beads were formed by dispersing a warm carrageenan cell suspension into stirring oil. After cooling (gelation) the beads were cured by treatment with amines. Ten amines of various sizes and structures were tested. We evaluated the mechanical strength and the applicability of aminetreated gels as immobilization matrices. The results of critical compression tests indicate that linear and branched polyethylenimines (PEI) are both good curing agents. PEI treated carrageenan beads also exhibited superior resistance to heat and abrasion. Furthermore, PEI polymers were demonstrated to be effective in stabilizing the lactase activity of the free and immobilized Bacillus stearothermophilus cells. The immobilized cell preparations of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, B. stearothermophilus, and Flavobacterium sp. were treated with branched PEI and evaluated for the activity of invertase (EC 3.2.1.26), lactase (EC 3.2.1.23), and glucose isomerase (EC 5.3.1.18), respectively, in a packed bed reactor at 60 degrees C. The apparent half-lives were 108, 39, and 64 days, respectively.