Claims
- 1. A spherical shaped mycelial pellet suitable for use in the biocatalytic conversion of organic compounds which comprises a rigid spherical core having a diameter ranging from about 0.1 mm to 1.0 cm surrounded by a porous integral webbed layer having a thickness of about 1 mm to 5 mm, said layer forming a spherical encasement of structural integrity about the rigid core and being composed of filamentous hyphae of a mycelial microorganism, said pellet being further characterized in that the webbed layer is separated from said core by a substantially void space and is attached to said core by a portion of mycelium of said microorganism.
- 2. A pellet according to claim 1 wherein said core is porous.
- 3. A pellet according to claim 2 wherein said core is a porous bead composed of cellulose acetate or cellulose.
- 4. A pellet according to claim 1 wherein said core is composed of agar.
- 5. A pellet according to claim 1 wherein said microoganism is a fungi of the genus Rhizopus, Mucor, Aspergillus, Penicillium or Trichoderma.
- 6. A method for the biocatalytic conversion of organic compounds which comprises reacting said compounds in presence of a mycelial pellet as defined in claim 1.
- 7. A method according to claim 6 wherein a carbohydrate material is converted to alcohol and said microorganism is a fungi of the genus Rhizopus, Mucor, or mixtures thereof.
- 8. A method according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein said conversion is carried out continuously in a column reactor containing said mycelial pellets.
- 9. A biocatalytic column reactor containing mycelial pellets as defined in claim 1 or claim 5.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 100,816 filed Dec. 6, 1979, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,327.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
4090022 |
Tsao et al. |
May 1978 |
|
4127447 |
Griffith et al. |
Nov 1978 |
|
4208482 |
Ehrenthal et al. |
Jun 1980 |
|
4321327 |
Chen et al. |
Mar 1982 |
|
Non-Patent Literature Citations (2)
Entry |
Atkinson et al., The Completely Mixed Microbial Film Fermenter Trans. Instr. Chem. Engrs., vol. 50, 1972, (pp. 208-216). |
Jack et al., The Immobilization of Whole Cells, Advances in Biochem. Eng., vol. 5 1977, (pp. 126-136 & 138-141). |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
100816 |
Dec 1979 |
|