Abstract The instant invention relates to immobilized enzymes which comprise an enzyme containing-solution emulsified in immiscible liquid. Preferably the enzyme containing-solution is aqueous and will comprise from about 0.1 to about 10 weight percent enzyme. A surfactant is provided in the immiscible liquid to stabilize the emulsion, the surfactant comprising from 0.01 to 90 weight percent, preferably 0.5 to 20 weight percent of the immiscible liquid. The instant invention also relates to a general procedure for preparing immobilized enzymes by emulsifying a solution containing said enzyme in an immiscible liquid. The emulsions of the instant invention are designed to be stable at the conditions at which the immobilized enzymes will be utilized. For example, in a chemical conversion process wherein phenol is oxidized in the presence of the immobilized enzymes of the instant invention, e.g. an aqueous phenol oxidase containing solution emulsified in a hydrocarbon, e.g. cyclohexane, sufficient surfactant is added to said hydrocarbon liquid so as to provide an emulsion which does not break down during the contact with the phenol reactant.
Inventors
👤 Norman N Li
👤 Donald R Brusca
👤 Raam R Mohan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-11-07 12:26
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D61/00; B01D61/38; B01D61/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
64 words
AN IMMOBLIZED ENZYME COMPRISING AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF THE ENZYME EMULSIFIED IN AN IMMISCIBLE LIQUID WHICH IMMISCIBLE LIQUID COMPRISES A HYDROCARBON OR A FLUORINATED HYDROCARBON DILUENT AND FURTHER WHEREIN THE IMMISCIBLE LIQUID COMPRISES A SURFACTANT WHICH IS FROM ABOUT 0.01 TO 10 WEIGHT PERCENT OF SAID IMMISCIBLE LIQUID, THE IMMOBILIZED ENZYME BEING SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF PHENOL OXIDASE, NITRATE REDUCTASE AND UREASE.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
64 words
AN IMMOBLIZED ENZYME COMPRISING AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF THE ENZYME EMULSIFIED IN AN IMMISCIBLE LIQUID WHICH IMMISCIBLE LIQUID COMPRISES A HYDROCARBON OR A FLUORINATED HYDROCARBON DILUENT AND FURTHER WHEREIN THE IMMISCIBLE LIQUID COMPRISES A SURFACTANT WHICH IS FROM ABOUT 0.01 TO 10 WEIGHT PERCENT OF SAID IMMISCIBLE LIQUID, THE IMMOBILIZED ENZYME BEING SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF PHENOL OXIDASE, NITRATE REDUCTASE AND UREASE.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for preparing an immobilized enzyme which comprises emulsifying an aqueous enzyme containing solution in a water immiscible liquid wherein said water immiscible liquid is a hydrocarbon or a fluorinated hydrocarbon and said water immiscible liquid further comprising from about 0.01 to 10 weight percent of a surfactant, and said enzyme is selected from the group consisting of phenol oxidase, nitrate reductase and urease.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for preparing an immobilized enzyme which comprises emulsifying an aqueous enzyme containing solution in a water immiscible liquid wherein said water immiscible liquid is a hydrocarbon or a fluorinated hydrocarbon and said water immiscible liquid further comprising from about 0.01 to 10 weight percent of a surfactant, and said enzyme is selected from the group consisting of phenol oxidase, nitrate reductase and urease.