Patent US4048018A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4048018A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of carrying out enzyme catalyzed reactions
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1976-03-09
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Granted: 1977-09-13
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Expires: 1996-03-09
Abstract
Abstract A liquid stream containing the reactants is passed through a bed of enzyme catalyst, made up of enzymes bonded to small, dense particles of carrier or support materials, in a manner which causes the bed to expand or fluidize and a chemical reaction is thereby carried out in a process that is simultaneously free from limitations due to plugging and excessive pressure drop and which also has the advantage of the high mass transfer rates that can be realized between the liquid and small particles.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W. Coughlin
- 👤 Marvin Charles
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:57
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12P; C12P1/00; A; A23; A23C; A23C19/00; A23C19/02; A23C19/024; A23C19/0245; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/813
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
An improved method of effecting enzymatic reactions in a reactant material which is contained in a carrier fluid by passing the carrier fluid past enzyme material attached to a supporting material comprising: a. passing the carrier fluid generally upwardly through a reaction zone containing finely divided particles having a size range of 0.01 millimeters to 5 millimeters to which the enzyme material is attached, said particles composed essentially of material having a theoretical density of from about 2.4 grams/cm 3 to 25 grams/cm 3 , the volume of the reaction zone being sufficient to contain all of the particulate supporting material in at least an expanded condition wherein the various particles are substantially not supported upon each other, b. maintaining an upward velocity of carrier fluid through said reaction zone sufficient to suspend and agitate the said particulate supporting material, but insufficient to carry said particulate supporting material from reaction zone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
An improved method of effecting enzymatic reactions in a reactant material which is contained in a carrier fluid by passing the carrier fluid past enzyme material attached to a supporting material comprising: a. passing the carrier fluid generally upwardly through a reaction zone containing finely divided particles having a size range of 0.01 millimeters to 5 millimeters to which the enzyme material is attached, said particles composed essentially of material having a theoretical density of from about 2.4 grams/cm 3 to 25 grams/cm 3 , the volume of the reaction zone being sufficient to contain all of the particulate supporting material in at least an expanded condition wherein the various particles are substantially not supported upon each other, b. maintaining an upward velocity of carrier fluid through said reaction zone sufficient to suspend and agitate the said particulate supporting material, but insufficient to carry said particulate supporting material from reaction zone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improved method of claim 1 wherein said particles are composed essentially of material having a theoretical density not less than about 3 grams/cm 3 .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improved method of claim 2 wherein the particulate supporting material is selected from the groups consisting of metals and metal oxides.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said supporting particles comprise dense cores surrounded by less dense material to which said enzyme is attached.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said dense cores are of material selected from the groups consisting of metals and metal oxides.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the said supporting particles employed are of smaller size when their density is large and of larger size when their density is small and the said reactant-containing fluid is essentially equivalent to water in density and viscosity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said supporting particles are of larger sizes and larger densities when the viscosity or the density of the said fluid is substantially larger than that of water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the enzyme material is selected from the group consisting of glucose isomerase, aminoacylase, aspartase, penicillin amidase, lactase and glucoamylase.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the enzyme material is selected from the group consisting of rennin, alphaamylase, isoamylase, alpha galactosidase, catalase, sulfhydryl oxidase, pectinase, invertase, galactose oxidase, beta gluconase, polyphenol oxidase and papain.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
144 words
Apparatus for conducting enzymic reactions wherein enzymes are immobilized on particles that are fluidized by the upward flow of carrier fluid containing a reactant material, comprising tube means forming a reaction vessel, enzyme material immobilized on insoluble supporting particles within said reaction vessel, said particles having sizes ranging from about 0.01 millimeter to 5 millimeters and composed essentially of material having a theoretical density ranging from about 2.4 grams/cm 3 to about 25 grams/cm 3 , pumping means for causing flow of carrier fluid upwards through said enzyme-bearing particles, with the restriction that the dimensions of said reaction vessel, the sizes and densities of said particles, and the characteristics of said pumping means are such as to result in fluidization of said particles while permitting said particles to remain within said vessel, when said carrier fluid is caused to flow through the said vessel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
144 words
Apparatus for conducting enzymic reactions wherein enzymes are immobilized on particles that are fluidized by the upward flow of carrier fluid containing a reactant material, comprising tube means forming a reaction vessel, enzyme material immobilized on insoluble supporting particles within said reaction vessel, said particles having sizes ranging from about 0.01 millimeter to 5 millimeters and composed essentially of material having a theoretical density ranging from about 2.4 grams/cm 3 to about 25 grams/cm 3 , pumping means for causing flow of carrier fluid upwards through said enzyme-bearing particles, with the restriction that the dimensions of said reaction vessel, the sizes and densities of said particles, and the characteristics of said pumping means are such as to result in fluidization of said particles while permitting said particles to remain within said vessel, when said carrier fluid is caused to flow through the said vessel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said supporting particles are of materials selected from the groups consisting of metals and metal oxides.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said supporting particles comprise dense cores surrounding by layers of less dense material to which said enzyme is attached.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said dense cores are of material selected from the groups consisting of metals and metal oxides.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-09-12 | 1981-03-14 | 1981-09-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-09-12 | 1985-03-14 | 1985-09-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-09-12 | 1989-03-14 | 1989-09-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |