The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 21, 1997
Filed:
Jun. 06, 1994
Anthony L Pometto, III, Boone, IA (US);
Ali Demirci, Ames, IA (US);
Kenneth E Johnson, Ames, IA (US);
Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc., Ames, IA (US);
Abstract
A solid support for immobilization of microorganism cells is made of a synthetic polymer such as a polyolefin, in admixture with an organic polymeric plant material such as corn fibers, oat hulls, starch, and cellulose. Preferably, the synthetic polymer is in an amount of about 50-95% wt-% and the plant material is in an amount of about 5-50 wt-%. Preferred polyolefins are polyethylene and polypropylene. The plant material may be a mixture including a plant material that functions as a nutrient to enhance growth of the microorganism on the support. The support may be produced by combining the synthetic polymer and plant material to form a composite, dough-like thermoplastic composition. The composition may be prepared in an extrusion mixer and co-extruded as an extrudate to form a shaped article. The supports are useful for immobilizing living cells of a microorganism to form a biofilm reactor for use in continuous fermentations, in streams for bioremediation of contaminants, and in waste treatment systems to remove contaminants and reduce biochemical oxygen demand levels.