Physical and biochemical characterization of a simple intermediate between fluidized and expanded bed contactors

Physical and biochemical comparison has been made of the performance of a simple fluidized bed contactor and a commercial expanded bed contactor, characterized by identical dimensions, and operated at various settled bed heights with two anion exchange adsorbents. The contactors were tested with various feedstocks comprising bovine albumin in the absence and presence of 20 g dry cell weight biomass litre-1. Earlier classification of the simple contactor as a single-stage, well mixed fluidized bed is reviewed. The relative merits of STREAMLINE DEAE and DEAE Spherodex LS as fluidizable, anion exchange adsorbents are discussed.