| 主权项 |
1. A fermentation method comprising: (a) functionalizing inorganic fibers by irradiating the fibers with a particle beam; and (b) contacting a low molecular weight sugar with the functionalized inorganic fibers and a fermenting microorganism immobilized on the fibers, within a medium, for a period of time and under suitable fermentation conditions to convert the low molecular weight sugar to a fermentation product, whereby the immobilization occurs as a result of interaction between functional groups on the functionalized fibers and functional groups on the microorganism;
wherein the inorganic fibers comprise a material selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, aragonite clay, orthorhombic clays, calcite clay, rhombohedral clays, kaolin, bentonite clay, dicalcium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate, calcium pyrophosphate, insoluble sodium metaphosphate, magnesium orthophosphate, trimagnesium phosphate, hydroxyapatites, synthetic apatites, alumina, hydrated alumina, silica xerogel, metal aluminosilicate complexes, sodium aluminum silicates, zirconium silicate, silicon dioxide, graphite, wollastonite, mica, glass, fiber glass, silica, talc, carbon fibers, conductive carbon black, ceramic fibers, alumina trihydrate, ground construction waste, and mixtures thereof. |
