The role of cell immobilization in fermentation technology

The distinction between immobilized cell fermentation and immobilized cell biocatalysis is seldom made, though they are conceptually quite different. Unlike immobilized enzyme systems, immobilized viable cells can be used to carry out conventional fermentations. Microbial cells which would otherwise be freely dispersed (in almost colloidal suspension) within the fermentation environment can be encouraged to become attached in some way to a support (carrier), thus producing a discrete particulate solid phase. Such immobilization offers several potential advantages of a process engineering nature to the fermentation system. These include ease of handling and of cell separation, and lowering of bulk viscosity, as well as the obvious potential benefits of increased cell concentration.