IMMOBILIZATION OF MICROORGANISM AND NON-AQUEOUS MICROBIAL CONVERSION REACTION WITH IMMOBILIZED MICROORGANISM

摘要

PURPOSE:To perform a microbial conversion reaction in high yield while improving the efficiency of the supply of substrate and oxygen by attaching microorganisms to a hydrophilic immobilization carrier and proliferating the microorganism on a contact interface between the carrier and an organic solvent in an aqueous medium containing a water-insoluble organic solvent. CONSTITUTION:Microorganisms are attached to a hydrophilic immobilization carrier (e.g. agar) and proliferated on a contact interface between the carrier and an organic solvent by contacting the microorganism on the carrier with a water-insoluble or scarcely soluble organic solvent (e.g. n-paraffin) in the presence of an aqueous medium containing nutrient source of the microorganism to immobilize the microorganism by engaging the immobilized microorganism phase on the carrier. As an alternative method, microorganisms are attached and fixed to a hydrophilic immobilization carrier and the immobilized microorganismic phase on the carrier is made to contact with a water-insoluble or scarcely soluble organic compound as a substrate in the presence of an aqueous medium containing nutrient source of the microorganism to effect the synthesis of an organic compound by a microbial conversion reaction.