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US4251633A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Multi-stage continuous system for production of heteropolysaccharides

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-06-11
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Granted: 1981-02-17
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Expires: 1999-06-11
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Abstract

Abstract A multi-stage continuous system for producing heteropolysaccharides. The system comprises: a fermentation stage consisting of an outer enzyme/nutrient containing chamber in which a membrane microbial growth chamber is movably mounted, the growth chamber being arranged to continuously produce Xanthomonas campestris cells in the late exponential-early stationary phase of growth and transfer polymerizing exo-enzymes and cell lysate therefrom into the surrounding medium of the enzyme/nutrient chamber and to retain the Xanthomonas campestris cells; and a polymerization state consisting of at least one module to receive the exo-enzymes and cell lysate from the fermentation stage to produce heteropolysaccharides.

Inventors

  • 👤 David C. Orlowski
  • 👤 Brooks D. Church

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 09:11
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12M; C12M33/00; C12M33/14; C12M23/00; C12M23/20; C12M23/26; C12M47/00; C12M47/04; C12M47/06; C12P; C12P19/00; C12P19/04; C12P19/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/813; Y10S435/8215; Y10S435/822; Y10S435/91

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 166 words
A multi-stage continuous system for producing heteropolysaccharides comprising: (a) a fermentation stage consisting of an outer enzyme/nutrient containing chamber in which a membranous microbial growth chamber is movably mounted, said growth chamber being arranged to continuously produce Xanthomonas campestris cells in the near stationary growth phase and transfer polymerizing exo-enzymes and cell lysate therefrom into the surrounding medium of said enzyme/nutrient chamber and to retain said Xanthomonas campestris cells; and wherein said growth chamber is connected to eccentric drive means which moves said growth chamber in a manner to facilitate transfer of exo-enzymes and cell lysate therefrom into the surrounding nutrient/enzyme medium, and to produce in said growth chamber a Bernoullian presentation pressure on a forward membrane with an equal and opposite negative pressure on a rear membrane surface, thereby retaining the Xanthomonas campestris cells in said growth chamber; and (b) a cell-free polymerization stage consisting of at least one module to receive said exo-enzymes and cell lysate from said fermentation stage to produce said heteropolysaccharides.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 166 words
A multi-stage continuous system for producing heteropolysaccharides comprising: (a) a fermentation stage consisting of an outer enzyme/nutrient containing chamber in which a membranous microbial growth chamber is movably mounted, said growth chamber being arranged to continuously produce Xanthomonas campestris cells in the near stationary growth phase and transfer polymerizing exo-enzymes and cell lysate therefrom into the surrounding medium of said enzyme/nutrient chamber and to retain said Xanthomonas campestris cells; and wherein said growth chamber is connected to eccentric drive means which moves said growth chamber in a manner to facilitate transfer of exo-enzymes and cell lysate therefrom into the surrounding nutrient/enzyme medium, and to produce in said growth chamber a Bernoullian presentation pressure on a forward membrane with an equal and opposite negative pressure on a rear membrane surface, thereby retaining the Xanthomonas campestris cells in said growth chamber; and (b) a cell-free polymerization stage consisting of at least one module to receive said exo-enzymes and cell lysate from said fermentation stage to produce said heteropolysaccharides.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
A multi-stage continuous system according to claim 1, wherein said eccentric drive means are connectable at one of several points to said growth chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 16 words
A multi-stage contiuous system according to claim 1, wherein said eccentric drive means has variable speeds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 26 words
A multi-stage continuous system according to claim 1, wherein said growth chamber has a membrane at each end and said membranes are supported by membrane supports.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 27 words
A multi-stage continuous system according to claim 1, having contacting members and said contacting members being plastic or metal and of a rigid, semi-rigid or flexible material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 35 words
A multi-stage continuous system according to claim 1, wherein the number of cell-free polymerizing modules making up said polymerizing stage corresponds to the length of time required to produce said heteropolysaccharides of a desired viscosity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 29 words
A multi-stage continuous system according to claim 1, wherein said enzyme-nutrient containing chamber is from about 5 to about 7 times as large in volume as said growth chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 43 words
A multi-stage continuous system according to claim 1, wherein said growth chamber is arranged to provide rapid and complete removal, replacement, and/or modification of the Xanthomonas campestris cells in said growth chamber from said fermentation stage during the continuous operation of said system.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2734015A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1984-02-17 1984-08-18 1985-02-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1988-02-17 1988-08-18 1989-02-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1992-02-17 1992-08-18 1993-02-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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