Process of immobilizing enzymes

Claim 2

THE PROCESS OF IMMOBILIZING A WATER-SOLUBLE ENZYME ON A CARRIER, WHEREIN AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF ENZYME IS CONACTED WITH A WATER-INSOLUBLE CARRIER MATERIAL FOR FIXATION OF SAID ENZYME THEREON, AND SAID CARRIER MATERIAL WHILE SAID SURFACES ARE WETTED WITH SAID ENZYME SOLUTION IS CONTACTED WITH AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF FILM-FORMING RESIN, SAID RESIN BEING IN THE PROCESS OF POLYMERIZATION TO A WATER-INSOLUBLE STATE AT A TEMPERATUE AND PH /T WHICH SAID ENZYME IS STABLE, WHEREIN THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISES EMPLOYING NYLON IN THE FORM OF A SPONGY FLOC AS SAID CARRIER MATERIL, AND DEPOSITING ON THE EXPOSED ENZYME SOLUTION COATED SURFACES OF SAID NYLON FLOC CARRIER MATERIAL A WATER-INSOLBULE FILM OF SAID RESIN CONTAINING SAID ENZYME IN ACTIVE FORM.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 in which said enzyme is a water-soluble amylase.

Claim 4

The process of claim 1 in which said enzyme solution is applied first to said carrier material, excess enzyme solution is separated from the wetted carrier material, and thereafter said film-forming resin solution is applied.

Claim 5

The process of claim 1 further characterized by the steps of separating the excess of said enzyme and said film-forming resin solutions from said carrier material, and drying the carrier material with said enzyme containing films on said surfaces under temperature conditions at which said enzyme is stable.

Claim 6

The process of claim 1 in which said film-forming resin is selected from the class consisting of mElamine resins, methylated melamine formaldehyde resins, and urea formaldehyde resins.

Claim 7

The process of immobilizing a water-soluble amylase on a carrier, characterized by the combination of steps comprising: contacting an aqueous solution of said amylase with a carrier material consisting essentially of nylon in the form of a spongy floc, said carrier material providing hydrophilic external surfaces having an affinity for said enzyme aqueous solution, also contacting said carrier material while in contact with at least a portion of said aqueous enzyme solution with an aqueous solution of a water-soluble film-forming resin, said resin being in the process of polymerization to a water-insoluble state at a temperature and pH at which said enzyme is stable, depositing on said surfaces of said carrier material a water-insoluble resin film-containing said amylase enzyme in active form, separating the excess of said amylase and said film-forming resin solutions from said carrier material, and drying the carrier material with said enzyme containing films on said surfaces under temperature conditions at which said enzyme is stable.

Claim 8

The process of immobilizing a water-soluble amylase on a carrier, characterized by the combination of steps comprising: contacting an aqueous solution of said amylase with a carrier material consisting essentially of nylon in the form of a spongy floc, said carrier material providing hydrophilic external surfaces having an affinity for said enzyme aqueous solution, also contacting said carrier material while in contact with at least a portion of said aqueous enzyme solution with an aqueous solution of a water-soluble film-forming resin, said resin being in the process of polymerization to a water-insoluble state at a temperature and pH at which said enzyme is stable, depositing on said surfaces of said carrier material a water-insoluble resin film-containing said amylase enzyme in active form, separating the excess of said amylase and said film-forming resin solutions from said carrier material, and drying the carrier material with said enzyme containing films on said surfaces under temperature conditions at which said enzyme is stable.

Claim 9

The process of claim 6 in which said film-forming resin is selected from the class consisting of melamine resins, methylated melamine formaldehyde resins, and urea formaldehyde resins.

Claim 10

The process of claim 6 in which said aqueous solution of said enzyme is first mixed with said aqueous solution of film-forming resin prior to contacting said carrier material.

Claim 11

The process of claim 6 in which said water insoluble carrier is contacted with a plurality of aqueous solutions of different enzymes before said resin has polymerized to a water insoluble state.