Microorganism immobilization in a .beta.-chitin carrier

• US 5,354,679 A
• Filed: 06/25/1992
• Issued: 10/11/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippon Suisan Kaisha Limited
• Original Assignee: Nippon Suisan Kaisha Limited
• Inventors: Ohashi, Eiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Naff, David M.
• Application Number:
  US07/904,258
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 435/178, 435/182, 435/817, 435/288, 204/403
• US Class Current: 435/178
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 5/08 Chitin; Chondroitin sulfate; Hyaluronic acid; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 11/04 entrapped within the carrier, e.g. gel or hollow fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/569 for microorganisms, e.g. protozoa, bacteria, viruses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/817 Enzyme or microbe electrode

Abstract

A suspension of a microorganism or a plurality of different microorganisms is added to a dispersion of β-chitin gel, and the resultant dispersion is molded and dried to produce an immobilized microorganism such as a film or membrane containing the microorganism. The β-chitin gel dispersion is prepared by isolating and grinding β-chitin from a source such as cuttlefish pen or squid pen, dispersing the ground β-chitin in water and forming a gel dispersion. In forming the gel dispersion, the dispersion of ground β-chitin is gelled and the gel is dispersed in water. Freeze-thawing may be used in gelling the dispersion of ground β-chitin. A film of the immobilized microorganism can be formed on an electrode to prepare a microorganism electrode.

Claims

1. A microorganism immobilized in a β

-chitin containing carrier which is obtained by a process comprising the steps of;

isolating β

-chitin;

grinding the isolated β

-chitin;

dispersing the ground β

-chitin in water to form a β

-chitin gel dispersion;

adding a microorganism suspension to the β

-chitin gel dispersion; and

molding and drying the β

-chitin gel and microorganism dispersion.

2. The microorganism immobilized in a carrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the microorganism suspension contains a plurality of different microorganisms.

3. The microorganism immobilized in a carrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of forming the β

-chitin gel dispersion comprises vigorous stirring.

4. The microorganism immobilized in a carrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of forming the β

-chitin gel dispersion comprises freeze thawing.

5. The microorganism immobilized in a carrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the β

-chitin is isolated from cuttlefish pen.

6. The microorganism immobilized in a carrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the β

-chitin is isolated from squid pen.

7. The microorganism immobilized in a carrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the molding and drying steps comprise placing the β

-chitin gel and microorganism dispersion on a filter for removing water and drying the β

-chitin gel and microorganism dispersion to form a film or membrane.

8. The microorganism immobilized in a carrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of dispersing the ground β

-chitin in water to form a β

-chitin gel dispersion comprises dispersing the ground β

-chitin in water to form a dispersion, gelling the β

-chitin in the dispersion, and dispersing the gel in water to form a dispersion.

9. A microorganism electrode comprising an electrode and a microorganism immobilized in a β

-chitin containing carrier which is obtained by a process comprising the steps of;

isolating β

-chitin;

grinding the isolated β

-chitin;

dispersing the ground β

-chitin in water to form a β

-chitin gel dispersion;

adding a microorganism suspension to the β

-chitin gel dispersion; and

molding and drying the β

-chitin gel and microorganism dispersion.