Immobilization of microorganisms on a support made of synthetic polymer and plant material
US5595893A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 6, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jan 21, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 6, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02W10/10
- WIPO fieldBiotechnology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A solid support for immobilization of microorganism cells is made of a synthetic polymer such as a polyolefin, in admixture with an organic polymeric plant material such as corn fibers, oat hulls, starch, and cellulose. Preferably, the synthetic polymer is in an amount of about 50-95% wt-% and the plant material is in an amount of about 5-50 wt-%. Preferred polyolefins are polyethylene and polypropylene. The plant material may be a mixture including a plant material that functions as a nutrient to enhance growth of the microorganism on the support. The support may be produced by combining the synthetic polymer and plant material to form a composite, dough-like thermoplastic composition. The composition may be prepared in an extrusion mixer and co-extruded as an extrudate to form a shaped article. The supports are useful for immobilizing living cells of a microorganism to form a biofilm reactor for use in continuous fermentations, in streams for bioremediation of contaminants, and in waste treatment systems to remove contaminants and reduce biochemical oxygen demand levels.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.