MASS-PRODUCTION OF BIOCATALYST-ENTRAPPING ALGINATE GEL PARTICLES BY A FORCED OSCILLATION METHOD

A forced oscillation method applying reverse-piezo electric effect has been proposed for mass-production of biocatalyst-entrapping polymer gel particles. A jet of aqueous alginate solution flowing out through an orifice was disintegrated into droplets by an oscillating pressure which was exerted by a ceramic plate vibrated by the reverse-piezo electric effect. The droplets formed were immediately solidified into gel particles in calcium chloride solution. The particle production rate by the method was up to 270 particles . s-1 or 1 x 10(-6) m3 . s-1. The size of the particles produced were down to 1 mm depending on the applied frequency. The smallest matrix size of the gel's polymer network was estimated to be around 5 nm. The method was applied for immobilization of yeast cells. The diameter of immobilized particles was 2.5 mm. The immobilized yeast grew well in the particle. The damage of yeast cells caused by the immobilization was not remarkable.