Nitivy Co., Ltd.

Agency of Industrial Science and Technology

Masahiko Takashio

Mitsutaka Uzumaki

Tadayoshi Utsumi

Mitsuo Suzuki

Aizo Yamauchi

Tetsuro Suehiro

Akihisa Shirasaka

A novel enzyme-active fibrous material is proposed comprising fibers of a rtially aminoacetalized polyvinyl alcohol as the support and an enzyme adsorbed and bonded thereto such as glucose isomerase, invertase, urease and the like. The enzyme-active fibrous material of the invention is readily prepared by dipping fibers of the partially aminoacetalized polyvinyl alcohol in an aqueous solution of the desired enzyme. The enzymatic activity and the physical properties of the fibers are remarkably improved by the use of extra-fine fibers prepared with composite fibers of a partially aminoacetalized polyvinyl alcohol and a polyethyleneoxide subjected to selective leaching away of the latter component or by the use of so-called sheath-and-core type or side-by-side type composite fibers of which one of the components is a partially aminoacetalized polyvinyl alcohol. The enzyme-active fibrous materials of the invention can be used in various industrial processes utilizing enzymatic reactions very conveniently and with high efficiency.

Enzyme-active fibrous materials and method for preparing same

Superfine fibers of polyvinyl alcohol type having a single fiber diameter of 0.1-1.0.mu. and a fineness of 0.8-80.times.10.sup.-4 d/f are baked in the presence of a dehydration catalyst so that the weight loss ratio of fibers falls under the range of about 5 to 40%. When ion-exchange radicals are introduced into the partially dehydrated fiber, superfine fibers with a high ion-exchange rate are obtained.

Process for preparing superfine ion-exchange fibers

A partially polyenized polyvinyl alcohol fiber is obtained by heating and dehydration polyvinyl alcohol type fibers at temperatures of about 80.degree. to 350.degree. C so that the dehydration weight loss falls within the range of about 5% to 40%. An ion-exchange radical is introduced into the partially polyenized polyvinyl alcohol fiber to obtain fibers with an ion-exchange capacity. The ion-exchange fiber thus obtained exhibits an exchange capacity comparable to ion-exchange resins and has practical properties as fibers, such as good chemical resistance and flexibility.

Partially polyenized polyvinyl alcohol fibers with ion-exchange capacity

Growing community of inventors

Fujieda, Japan

Masahiko Takashio