Abstract Spherical shaped mycelial pellets suitable for use in the biocatalytic conversion of organic compounds are prepared having a rigid spherical core surrounded by a porous webbed layer of structural integrity of a mycelial microorganism. The webbed layer is preferably separated from the core by a substantial void space and is attached to the core by a portion of the mycelium of the microorganism. The core may be composed of a cellulose derivative or agar. The pellets are prepared by forming a solution of a cellulose derivative or agar, mixing spores of a mycelial microorganism with the solution, precipitating the celluose derivative or agar to form beads containing the spores and incubating the beads in a culture medium.
A spherical shaped mycelial pellet suitable for use in the biocatalytic conversion of organic compounds which comprises a rigid spherical core having a diameter ranging from about 0.1 mm to 1.0 cm surrounded by a porous integral webbed layer having a thickness of about 1 mm to 5 mm, said layer forming a spherical encasement of structural integrity about the rigid core and being composed of filamentous hyphae of a mycelial microorganism, said pellet being further characterized in that the webbed layer is separated from said core by a substantially void space and is attached to said core by a portion of mycelium of said microorganism.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A spherical shaped mycelial pellet suitable for use in the biocatalytic conversion of organic compounds which comprises a rigid spherical core having a diameter ranging from about 0.1 mm to 1.0 cm surrounded by a porous integral webbed layer having a thickness of about 1 mm to 5 mm, said layer forming a spherical encasement of structural integrity about the rigid core and being composed of filamentous hyphae of a mycelial microorganism, said pellet being further characterized in that the webbed layer is separated from said core by a substantially void space and is attached to said core by a portion of mycelium of said microorganism.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
A pellet according to claim 1 wherein said core is porous.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A pellet according to claim 2 wherein said core is a porous bead composed of cellulose acetate or cellulose.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
A pellet according to claim 1 wherein said core is composed of agar.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A pellet according to claim 1 wherein said microoganism is a fungi of the genus Rhizopus, Mucor, Aspergillus, Penicillium or Trichoderma.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method for the biocatalytic conversion of organic compounds which comprises reacting said compounds in presence of a mycelial pellet as defined in claim 1.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein a carbohydrate material is converted to alcohol and said microorganism is a fungi of the genus Rhizopus, Mucor, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein said conversion is carried out continuously in a column reactor containing said mycelial pellets.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A biocatalytic column reactor containing mycelial pellets as defined in claim 1 or claim 5.