US5024942A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Biochemical process for reacting hydrophobic and hydrophilic substrates and apparatus therefor
Assignee: NOF Corp
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Filing: 1984-02-17
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Granted: 1991-06-18
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Expires: 2004-02-17
Abstract
Abstract A biochemical process and apparatus for use in the process are described. The process comprises reacting (a) a hydrophobic substrate with (b) a solution or dispersion comprising a hydrophilic substrate and an enzyme catalyst, by contacting through a porous thin membrane, wherein the hydrophobic and hydrophilic substrates are incompatible with each other. The apparatus comprises a main body and a porous thin membrane provided inside the main body so as to define therein at least two channels, wherein a hydrophobic substrate and a solution or dispersion comprising hydrophilic substrate and an enzyme catalyst are contacted through the thin membrane by passing them through the respective channels.
Inventors
- 👤 Shoichi Shimizu
- 👤 Tsuneo Yamane
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:28
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12M; C12M29/00; C12M29/04; C12M23/00; C12M23/34; C12P; C12P7/00; C12P7/64; C12P7/6436; C12P7/6445; C12P7/6454
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A biochemical process comprising reacting a (a) hydrophobic substrate with (b) a solution or dispersion comprising a hydrophilic substrate and an enzyme catalyst, wherein said reacting is carried out by contacting said hydrophilic substrate and said hydrophobic substrate, which are separated by a porous thin membrane and do not intermingle, through the micropores of said porous thin membrane, wherein said porous thin membrane has a pore size of about 0.05 to 10 μm and a thickness of about 10 to 100 μm, and wherein said hydrophilic substrate and said hydrophobic substrate are incompatible with each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
A biochemical process comprising reacting a (a) hydrophobic substrate with (b) a solution or dispersion comprising a hydrophilic substrate and an enzyme catalyst, wherein said reacting is carried out by contacting said hydrophilic substrate and said hydrophobic substrate, which are separated by a porous thin membrane and do not intermingle, through the micropores of said porous thin membrane, wherein said porous thin membrane has a pore size of about 0.05 to 10 μm and a thickness of about 10 to 100 μm, and wherein said hydrophilic substrate and said hydrophobic substrate are incompatible with each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic substrate is a fatty acid ester, the hydrophilic substrate is water, and the enzyme is lipase.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic substrate is a fatty acid having 6 to 24 carbon atoms, the hydrophilic substrate is a polyhydric alcohol, and the enzyme is lipase.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process as claimed in claims 2 or 3, wherein said lipase is derived from a microorganism, an animal organ or a plant seed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 4, wherein said microorganism is selected from the group consisting of Candida, Chromobacterium, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Mucor, Geotrichum, Rhizopus, and Arthrobacter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said porous thin membrane has a thickness of about 20 to 50 μm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said porous thin membrane has a porosity of about 20 to 80%.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said porous thin membrane has a porosity of about 40 to 60%.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4275081A
Cited
JPS57166985A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-06-17 | 1994-12-17 | 1995-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-06-17 | 1998-12-17 | 1999-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-06-17 | 2002-12-17 | 2003-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |