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Process variables
Cell immobilisation
Introduction
In 1995 the symposium, Immobilised Cells: Basics and Applications was organised under the auspices of the working party of applied catalysis of the European Federation of Biotechnology
Symposium covered the path from basic physiological research to bioprocess applications Immobilised cells, Springer lab manual Wijffels, R.H
Introduction
In a previous lecture we learnt that higher dilution rates can lead to
- higher biomass productivity But - higher substrate concentrations in the effluent and lower biomass concentrations in the reactor When the dilution rate exceeds the critical dilution rate then washout occurs.
Introduction
These factors result in a number of problems. E.g in continuous wastewater treatment processes:
Introduction
In chemostat processes similar consequences can occur. If the substrates are expensive, e.g animal cell culture, high dilution rates can dramatically affect process profitablility.
Immobilizing cells in the fermenter ensures that cells do not washout when the critical dilution rate is exceeded. By immobilizing the cells in the fermenter, high cell numbers can be maintained at dilution rates which exceed m. Therefore in an immobilised continuous fermenter system high cell counts can be maintained leading to higher biomass productivity as compared to a normal chemostat.
Immobilisation provides high cell concentration Immobilisation provides cell reuse and eliminates the costly processes of cell recovery and cell recycle Immobilisation eliminates cell washout problems at high dilution rates Combination of high cell concentrations and high flow rates allows high volumetric productivities Favourable microenvironmental conditions Improves genetic stability Protects against shear damage
A higher cell concentration in the immobilised bioreactor prevents the microbial population from completely washing out.
Inhibitor enters inlet feed
Biomass
Immobilised bioreactor
Chemostat
Time
In a chemostat, a temporary (transient) increase in the dilution rate will cause a rapid drop in cell numbers. The entry of a slug of toxic substances in the feed will have the same effect. It will take time for the cells numbers to build up again. Since the cells are not as easily washed out of an immobilized cell reactor, the recovery time will be more quicker and fall in biomass concentration will be smaller.
If the toxic substance is a substrate (eg. in the waste treatment of toxic wastewaters), high cell concentrations will be able to more rapidly utilize any slug of toxins which may enter the reactor. The resultant sag in biomass concentration will be smaller and the rise in concentration of the inhibitory substance will also be much smaller with immobilized cell reactors.
The higher productivity and greater stability of immobilized fermenters thus leads to smaller fermenter requirements and considerable savings in
capital and energy costs.
Limitations
(1). Often the product of interest has to be excreted from the cell
Complications with diffusional limitations Control of microenvironment conditions is difficult due to heterogeneity in the system Growth and gas evolution can lead to mechanical disruption of the immobilised matrix
(2). (3).
(4).
Types of immobilisation
Active immobilisation Passive immobilisation
Active immobilisation
Is entrapment or binding of cells by physical or chemical forces
Physical entrapment within porous matrices is the most widely used method of cell immobilisation Immobilised beads should be porous enough to allow transport of substrates and products in and out of the beads
Active immobilisation
Beads can be prepared by
1) Gelation of polymers 2) Precipitation of polymers 3) Ion exchange gelation 4) Polycondensation 5) Polymerisation 6) Encapsulation
Passive immobilisation
Biological films
The multilayered growth of cells on solid support surfaces The support material can be inert or biologically active Biofilm formation is common in natural and industrial fermentation systems, i.e biological wastewater treatment and mold fermentations
Synthetic
Polyvinyl alcohol Polyurethane Polyethylene glycol
Carrageenan
Extracted from seaweed and a gel is derived by stabilisation with K+ ions or by thermogelation (reducing the temperature at low ion concentration) Carrageenan consists of alternating structures of Dgalactose 4-sulphate and 3,6-anhydro-D-galactose 2sulphate
Carrageenan matrix becomes weak when disturbing ions are present
Alginate
Alginate is derived from algae and is stabilised by divalent cations
It consists of 1-4 bonded D-mannuronic and Lguluronic acids groups Gels are formed due to binding of divalent metal cations to the guluronic acids groups Most commonly used cation is Ca2+
Synthetic gels
Lately several gel-forming synthetic prepolymers have been developed Polymerisation or crosslinking is carried out in the presence of the microorganism Rather hostile process leads to activity losses
Relatively expensive
Protection cells protected from stress e.g. pH, temp etc. useful in inoculum delivery
There are many types of immobilized cell reactors either in use or under development. In this section we will look at four major classes of immobilized cell reactors:
Cell recycle systems Fixed bed reactors Fluidized bed reactors Flocculated cell systems
Fresh feed
Effluent
Biomass recycle
steroid transformations
1) A high concentration of cells can be immobilized in the reactor due to the larger surface area for cell immobilization is available
2) Mass transfer rates are higher due to the larger surface area and the higher levels of mixing in the reactor. 3) Fluidised bed reactors do not clog as easily as fixed bed reactors.
Flocculated cell reactors are used widely in anaerobic waste treatment processes.
In these reactors, the methanogenic and other bacteria form natural flocs. The flocs move due to the release of methane and carbon dioxide by the cells.
Cells form flocs which gently fall and rise with gases they produce
Some applications
ENCAPSEL - retained antibody plus mamalian cells in capsule during growth in bioreactor
Artificial seeds - polymer coating protects plant embryo
Artifical cells/organs
Leukocytes & antibodies cannot penetrate into membranes immunological rejection avoided Encapsulated hepatocytes placed into rat with defect in bilirubin uridine diphosphate glucuronyltransferase Genetically engineered encapsulated E. coli into rats with renal failure (lowered plasma urea)
Biosorbents
Remove heavy metals AlgaSORB - immobilised algae cells in silica gel beads S. cerevisiae and Zoogleoa ramigera immobilised in calcium alginate capsules used in removal of lead and cadmium
CONVENTIONAL STRATEGY FOR STABILIZATION OF BIOTECHNOLOGICAL PROCESSES (e.g. STR) Eliminate contamination / competition
CHARACTERISTICS OF GEL
PROPERTIES OF BOTH LIQUID AND SOLID Shape retention, Resistance to mechanical stress.
PHYSICALLY IMMOBILIZED WATER Similar to semi-permeable membrane, Water soluble molecules can diffuse, Water moves in / out (dry) depending on external environment.
Summary
Why use immobilisation; advantages over suspension cultures Some limitations of ICT Types of immobilisation Immobilisation matrixes Types of immobilised cell reactors Applications of immobilised cells
Conclusions
ICT ADVANTAGES 1. Increased reaction rates e.g. higher flow rates