Preparation and kinetic behavior of immobilized whole cell biocatalysts

Actinoplanes missouriensis (for glucose isomerase), Kluyveromyces fragilis (for beta-galactosidase), and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (for invertase) cells were successfully entrapped within cellulose and cellulose di- and triacetate beads employing several carried solvent systems. Cellulose beads prepared using a melt of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and N-ethylpyridinium chloride (NEPC), or cellulose diacetate using a mixture of acetone and DMSO as solvent, were found to be promising as carriers for the invertase system, cellulose triacetate beads with DMSO as solvent for yeast beta-galactosidase, and cellulose beads with a melt of DMSO and NEPC as solvent for glucose isomerase. The kinetic behavior of A. missouriensis glucose isomerase whole cell cellulose beads in a plug-flow column reactor was studied as an example system in greater detail.