A new technique for the production of immobilized biocatalyst in large quantities

A new technique is presented for the production of immobilized biocatalysts in large quantities. It consists of breaking up a jet of the biocatalyst/presupport mixture in uniform droplets by means of a resonance technique. Entrapment of yeast and plant cells in calcium alginate has been used as the model. The production capacity of the nozzles used (0.5, 0.8, and 1.1 mm exit diameters) is two orders of magnitude larger than the production capacity of the conventional techniques (maximum capacity with a 1.1-mm nozzle diameter is 24 L/h). Depending on frequency, nozzle diameter, and volumetric flow rate, the bead size varies between 1 and 2 mm, with standard deviations of 3-5% for yeast immobilization and 10-15% for plant cells. The deactivation of both yeast and plant cells is small and comparable to that found in the corresponding conventional procedures.