Novo Nordisk A/s

Novozymes A/s

Christian Pedersen

Ole Kirk

Erik Marcussen

Morten Wurtz Christensen

Morten W&uuml;rtz Christensen

An immobilized enzyme is prepared for use in organic mediums essentially devoid of free water. An enzyme-containing liquid medium is contacted with a particulate porous carrier which preferably has a particle size of 200-1000 &mgr;m and a surface area of 20-1000 m /g to adsorb the enzyme on the carrier, and volatile components of the liquid medium contained by the carrier are removed. The carrier may have a hydrophilic surface, and an amount of liquid medium is used to prevent agglomeration of the carrier. Alternatively, the carrier has a hydrophobic surface, and the addition of a hygroscopic substance suppresses agglomeration of the carrier by absorbing excess liquid. The hygroscopic substance may be removed during the removal of volatile components. Contacting of the enzyme-containing liquid and carrier can be in a fluidized bed where immobilization and removing volatile components are conducted simultaneously, or contacting can be in mixer followed by removing volatile components in a fluidized bed. The enzyme-containing liquid may be atomized onto the carrier in the fluidized bed or in the mixer. Enzymes immobilized include lipase, and the immobilized lipase can be used in trans-esterification reactions.

Immobilization of enzymes on particulate porous carriers for use in organic mediums

An immobilized enzyme preparation for use in an organic medium essentially devoid of free water is prepared using a fluidized bed. An enzyme-containing liquid medium is contacted with a particulate porous carrier which preferably has a particle size of 200-1000 .mu.m and a surface area of 20-1000 m.sup.2 /g, and volatile components of the liquid medium are removed to fix or adsorb the enzyme on the carrier. The carrier may have a hydrophilic surface and an amount of liquid medium is used to prevent agglomeration of the carrier. The enzyme can be adsorbed on a carrier having a hydrophobic surface, and the addition of a hygroscopic substance suppresses agglomeration of the carrier by absorbing excess liquid. The hygroscopic substance may be removed during the removal of volatile components. Contacting of the enzyme-containing liquid and carrier is in a fluidized bed where immobilization and removing volatile components are conducted simultaneously, or contacting is in mixer followed by removing volatile components in a fluidized bed. The enzyme-containing liquid may be atomized onto the carrier in the fluidized bed or in the mixer. Enzymes immobilized include lipase, and the immobilized lipase is used in a trans-esterification reaction.

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Roedovre, Denmark

Christian Pedersen