Genencor International, Inc.

Ciba-geigy Corporation

Alfred L Gaertner

Nathaniel T Becker

Douglas A Dale

Robert I Christensen

Ryszard Braun

Antti V Kosola

Dieter Werthemann

Robert C Fewkes

Mahmood M Ghani

David R Wight

Bruce A Bisgrove

Gene Park

John Reynold

Ville Kyl&auml;koski

Robert L Christensen, Jr

Spencer Fisk

Beat Freiermuth

A fluid bed processing system with a spraying apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes an expansion chamber and at least one spraying apparatus which extends into the expansion chamber. The spraying apparatus has a plurality of single nozzles which are spaced along the spraying apparatus and has at least one fluid passage connected to each of the single nozzles.

Spray gun with a plurality of single nozzles for a fluid bed processing system and method thereof

A granule having high stability and low dust is described. The granule includes a hydrated barrier material having moderate or high water activity. Also described are methods of producing the granules.

Granule with hydrated barrier material

A fluidized bed coating apparatus is provided and includes a fluid inlet adapted to be connected to a source of fluidizing fluid. The fluid inlet has an entrance opening having a first diameter and an exit opening downstream of the entrance opening. The exit opening has a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter. The inlet also includes an expanding inlet section, between the entrance opening and the exit opening, that has an average diameter that increases in a direction from said entrance opening to said exit opening. A fluid distribution plate is provided adjacent the exit opening and includes a plurality of through-passages to allow the even and distributed passage of a fluidizing fluid therethrough. A chamber having a chamber inlet and a chamber outlet is provided and the fluid distribution plate is positioned between the exit opening and the chamber inlet. The chamber includes at least a first diverging section having an average diameter that increases in the direction from the chamber inlet downstream toward the chamber outlet. The symmetrical design of the coater provides an evenly distributed flow of fluid that enables efficient and complete fluidization and coating of very large particle beds.

Symmetrical fluidization coater for high capacity manufacturing

A granular enzyme composition is produced having reduced tendency to form dust and leave a residue, and improved stability and delayed release characteristics. The composition has a core, optionally coated with a vinyl polymer, a layer containing an enzyme and a vinyl polymer and optionally a plasticizer or anti-agglomeration agent, and an outer coating containing a polymer and optionally a low residue pigment and/or lubricant. Preferably, the core is a salt or sugar nonpareil, the vinyl polymer coating the core is polyvinyl alcohol and most preferably partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol, the vinyl polymer in the enzyme layer is polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and the polymer of the outer coating is polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol which may be partially hydrolyzed, polyethylene glycol or mixtures thereof such as a mixture of polyvinyl pyrrolidone and polyvinyl alcohol or a mixture of polyvinyl pyrrolidone and polyethylene glycol. Preferably, the pigment is titanium dioxide and the lubricant is a nonionic or anionic surfactant such as a linear primary alcohol of a 9-15 carbon atom chain length alkane or alkene or an ethoxylate or ethoxysulfate derivative thereof. The enzyme can be a protease, amylase, lipase, cellulase, xylanase, oxidase, peroxidase or mixtures thereof. The composition may be produced by spray coating in a fluidized bed a solution of the enzyme and vinyl polymer onto the core to form the enzyme layer, and then spray coating in a fluidized bed a solution of polymer on the enzyme layer to form the outer coating.

Coated enzyme-containing granule

The present invention provides an assay method for hemicellulases comprising a) directly dyeing, using a reactive dye, an insoluble natural product, or a modified form of a natural fibre material; and b) adding the enzyme to the dyed product produced in step a) and, after a specific incubation period, separating the liquid component from the insoluble dyed product, e.g. by a simple filtration, and determining the amount of dyestuff liberated in the the separated solution by spectrophotometric means. A combined mixing and dispensing device for use in the method of the present invention is also provided.

Assay method for hemicellulases using a colored substrate

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San Bruno, CA, United States of America

Alfred L Gaertner