EP0314699A1 - Recovery of material - Google Patents

Recovery of material

Info

Publication number
EP0314699A1
EP0314699A1 EP19870904716 EP87904716A EP0314699A1 EP 0314699 A1 EP0314699 A1 EP 0314699A1 EP 19870904716 EP19870904716 EP 19870904716 EP 87904716 A EP87904716 A EP 87904716A EP 0314699 A1 EP0314699 A1 EP 0314699A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
liquid
biological material
immobilised
vessel
supports
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP19870904716
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Colin Webb
Julio Joseph John Faria
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
APRIL COMPUTING EXECUTIVE LIMITED
Original Assignee
APRIL COMPUTING EXECUTIVE Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by APRIL COMPUTING EXECUTIVE Ltd filed Critical APRIL COMPUTING EXECUTIVE Ltd
Publication of EP0314699A1 publication Critical patent/EP0314699A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F3/00—Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F3/02—Aerobic processes
    • C02F3/12—Activated sludge processes
    • C02F3/1205—Particular type of activated sludge processes
    • C02F3/1226—Particular type of activated sludge processes comprising an absorbent material suspended in the mixed liquor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D29/00—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor
    • B01D29/01—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor with flat filtering elements
    • B01D29/05—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor with flat filtering elements supported
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D43/00—Separating particles from liquids, or liquids from solids, otherwise than by sedimentation or filtration
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F3/00—Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F3/02—Aerobic processes
    • C02F3/10—Packings; Fillings; Grids
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
    • C12M47/00—Means for after-treatment of the produced biomass or of the fermentation or metabolic products, e.g. storage of biomass
    • C12M47/02—Separating microorganisms from the culture medium; Concentration of biomass
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N1/00—Microorganisms, e.g. protozoa; Compositions thereof; Processes of propagating, maintaining or preserving microorganisms or compositions thereof; Processes of preparing or isolating a composition containing a microorganism; Culture media therefor
    • C12N1/02—Separating microorganisms from their culture media
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D29/00—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor
    • B01D29/76—Handling the filter cake in the filter for purposes other than for regenerating
    • B01D29/80—Handling the filter cake in the filter for purposes other than for regenerating for drying
    • B01D29/82—Handling the filter cake in the filter for purposes other than for regenerating for drying by compression
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
    • Y02W10/00—Technologies for wastewater treatment
    • Y02W10/10—Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the separation or recovery from a liquid of a material which can exist in the form of agglomerates or which can be immobilised on a support (although not necessarily both).
  • a particular example of material with which the present invention is concerned is biological material, e.g. icrobial or plant or animal cells.
  • Biomaterial e.g. microbial cells
  • Biological material is frequently immobilised on a support of high internal voidage and grown in a liquid nutrient medium to yield useful products which are either excreted into the liquid medium or retained within the cells. In either case, it is ultimately necessary to effect a separation of the biological material from the liquid so that the product can be obtained.
  • culture cells in the form of agglomerates and similar considerations apply as for the separation of the agglomerated material from the liquid to obtain the product.
  • a method of recovering material from a liquid the material being in the form of agglomerates or being immobilised on a support wherein the liquid is held in a vessel having at least one outlet aperture of a size less than said agglomerates or supports, removing the liquid causing the material to be de-agglomerated or deimmobilised, and then causing the material to pass through said aperture.
  • the apertures will have a cross-sectional size of 0.5 to 10mm.
  • the bulk of the liquid is removed from the vessel before the material is de-agglomerated or de-immobilised.
  • the invention is applicable particularly to the separation or biological material (e.g. cells) immobilised on a resilient or other deformable support material, e.g. plastics foam of substantial (e.g. 97%) internal voidage.
  • a resilient or other deformable support material e.g. plastics foam of substantial (e.g. 97%) internal voidage.
  • the biological material may be provided in the form of floe which is of a size larger than the exit aperture or apertures but which is 'destroyed' e.g. by the application of pressure, so that the biological material may pass through the outlet or outlets.
  • the de-agglomeration or de-immobilisation is preferably effected by means of pressure, e.g. by- means of a pressure wave applied to the material (such as by the pulsing of a piston in the vessel in which the material is obtained) or by the actual pressing of the material. It is also possible to use other external forces for effecting de-agglomeration or de-immobilisation, e.g. ultra-sonics or chemical means. In all cases, the material is reduced to a size such that it can pass through the outlet aperture or apertures, preferably with the assistance of pressure although in certain cases it is possible to rely simply on gravity.
  • the method of the invention may be used for recovery of biological material from the vessel in which a fermentation reaction is effected so that fermentation and separation may be effected sequentially in the same vessel. This is particularly advantageous where it is desired to maintain sterile conditions. It is however also possible simply to supply the biological material in the liquid for immobilisation on supports within the vessel so that a separation from the liquid may then be effected.
  • the invention may also be used for the separation of any fine particulate solids (e.g. inorganic material) from a liquid, provided that these solids may be agglomerated or immobilised on a support.
  • any fine particulate solids e.g. inorganic material
  • Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of one embodiment of the invention.
  • the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a fermentation reactor 1, in which the biological material may be produced as a pure or mixed culture. incorporating an upper piston 2 and a lower ⁇ i ⁇ ce 3 having apertures 3a. Piston 2 comprises two s ac d sealing rings 2a to ensure a gas/liquid tight seal as well as stability of the piston. Valves 4-8 are associated with the apparatus as shown, as is a recyling pump 9.
  • the fermentation reaction will be effected with biological material which is, or becomes, immobilised on a resilient plastics foam material of, for example, 97% void volume.
  • biological material which is, or becomes, immobilised on a resilient plastics foam material of, for example, 97% void volume.
  • Such materials are well established as supports for biological fermentation reactions (see for example U.K.-A-2 006 181) and for the present example process will be used as supports having a size greater than that of the apertures in plate 3, typically 6-30mm characteristic length.
  • the supports Prior to the commencement of the fermentation reaction, the supports are introduced into the vessel 1. Nutrient liquid and an inoculum for a particular biological reaction are also added (via valve 4). During fermentation the supports become colonised by the biological material. Where satisfactory immobilisation of the micro-organism to the support does not occur naturally, this can be achieved by the addition of suitable immobilisation agents (e.g. polysaccharides, polyacrylamides or other charged species. Alternatively it may be necessary to modify the surface of the supports (e.g. by ion beam etching) in order to achieve the necessary level of immobilisation. It is also possible to introduce a mixture of two or more biological materials into a vessel containing the supports together with a selective affinity material so that only a selected one of the materials is immobilised on the supports.
  • suitable immobilisation agents e.g. polysaccharides, polyacrylamides or other charged species.
  • suitable immobilisation agents e.g. polysaccharides, polyacrylamides or other charged species.
  • valves 4 and 6-8 are closed whereas valve 5 may be open so that pump 9 may be operated to allow recirculation of liquid (drained through plate 3) back to the top of reactor 1 to promote mixing.
  • valves 4, 6 and 7 will be opened to a controlled extent to provide a continuous throughflow while the valve 5 may also be open so that pump 9 may be operated to allow recirculation of liquid (drained through plate 3) back to the top of reactor 1 to promote mixing.
  • the system may also be reconfigured to allow upflow rather than downflow of liquid.
  • valves 5 and 7 are closed and valve 8 is opened.
  • Piston 2 is now moved downwardly through reactor 1 (e.g. by means of air pressure supplied along line la or by mechanical means) and compresses the foam particles between itself and the apertured plate 3. This compre ⁇ sive force causes the biological material to be dislodged from the 'particles'. The dislodged material passes through plate 3 and exits via valves 6 and 8 into a product line from which it is collected for further processing as required.
  • the reactor 1 may be prepared for a further fermentation reaction by closing valves 6 and 8 and withdrawing piston 2.
  • the withdrawal of piston 2 allows the foam particles to resile to their original dimensions and can be used to refill the vessel 1 with fresh nutrient liquid and inoculant via valves 4 and 5.
  • the fermentation reaction may thus be recommenced.
  • piston 2 may be pulsed - (without necessarily contacting the support) upwardly and downwardly with valve 6 being open. As the piston is raised, high velocity liquid and/or air is drawn back into vessel 1 and 'scours' the supports causing the biological material to be dislodged. When piston 2 is moved down, liquid is forced out of vessel 1 and causes the biological material to be ' passed through plate 3.
  • the piston may, for example, move through 60 cycles/ in or so.
  • FIG. 1 shows the use of a pneumatically operated piston, it is of course possible to use mechanical actuation.
  • the abovedescribed apparatus may be operated as a trickle-bed reactor in which, during the fermentation reaction, nutrient liquid is allowed to trickle through a bed of the particles and the effluent liquid is allowed to drain through valve 6. Periodically biological material is recovered by compressing the particles by means of piston 2, as described above.
  • a test vessel similar to that shown in Fig. 1 was used to grow yeast cells immobilised on reticulated foam supports (6mm cubes) of high internal voidage.
  • the base of the vessel had a diameter of about 2.5 cm and had about 30 holes each with a diameter of about 1.6 mm.
  • the biological material was then recovered by firstly draining liquid from vessel 1, then effecting de-immobilisation of " the biological material and passing this biological material (now in the form of a slurry) through the apertured plate.
  • the results were as shown in Table 2.
  • A Concentration of yeast cells in vessel 1 (i.e. total mass of cells/total vol of reactor)
  • B Concentration of yeast cells initially inside foam support particles (i.e. total mass of cells/total volume of foam supports)
  • C Concentration of yeast cells in effluent stream
  • D Concentration of yeast cells in slurry after recovery * - All concentrations are on a dry weight basis.
  • the resilient foam supports (still with immobilised material) were squeezed gently after draining of the 'bulk' liquid to remove interstitial liquid prior co the de-immobilisation of the biological material.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Zoology (AREA)
  • Biotechnology (AREA)
  • Bioinformatics & Cheminformatics (AREA)
  • Microbiology (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Genetics & Genomics (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
  • Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
  • Tropical Medicine & Parasitology (AREA)
  • Virology (AREA)
  • Apparatus Associated With Microorganisms And Enzymes (AREA)
  • Micro-Organisms Or Cultivation Processes Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

Un procédé sert à séparer ou à récupérer des matériaux contenus dans un liquide, ces matériaux se présentant sous la forme d'agglomérés ou étant immobilisés sur un support. Le liquide est maintenu dans un récipient ayant au moins un orifice d'évacuation (3a) plus petit que les agglomérés ou supports, puis le liquide est évacué, les agglomérés sont défaits ou le matériau est séparé des supports et enfin les matériaux sont enlevés par ledit orifice d'évacuation.A process is used to separate or recover materials contained in a liquid, these materials being in the form of agglomerates or being immobilized on a support. The liquid is kept in a container having at least one outlet (3a) smaller than the agglomerates or supports, then the liquid is evacuated, the agglomerates are defeated or the material is separated from the supports and finally the materials are removed by said discharge orifice.

Description

i .
RECOVERY OF MATERIAL
The present invention relates to the separation or recovery from a liquid of a material which can exist in the form of agglomerates or which can be immobilised on a support (although not necessarily both). A particular example of material with which the present invention is concerned is biological material, e.g. icrobial or plant or animal cells.
Biological material (e.g. microbial cells) is frequently immobilised on a support of high internal voidage and grown in a liquid nutrient medium to yield useful products which are either excreted into the liquid medium or retained within the cells. In either case, it is ultimately necessary to effect a separation of the biological material from the liquid so that the product can be obtained. Similarly, it is also possible to culture cells in the form of agglomerates and similar considerations apply as for the separation of the agglomerated material from the liquid to obtain the product.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for effecting such separations.
According to the present invention there is provided a method of recovering material from a liquid, the material being in the form of agglomerates or being immobilised on a support wherein the liquid is held in a vessel having at least one outlet aperture of a size less than said agglomerates or supports, removing the liquid causing the material to be de-agglomerated or deimmobilised, and then causing the material to pass through said aperture.
Typically, the apertures will have a cross-sectional size of 0.5 to 10mm. Preferably the bulk of the liquid is removed from the vessel before the material is de-agglomerated or de-immobilised.
The invention is applicable particularly to the separation or biological material (e.g. cells) immobilised on a resilient or other deformable support material, e.g. plastics foam of substantial (e.g. 97%) internal voidage.
Alternatively the biological material may be provided in the form of floe which is of a size larger than the exit aperture or apertures but which is 'destroyed' e.g. by the application of pressure, so that the biological material may pass through the outlet or outlets.
The de-agglomeration or de-immobilisation is preferably effected by means of pressure, e.g. by- means of a pressure wave applied to the material (such as by the pulsing of a piston in the vessel in which the material is obtained) or by the actual pressing of the material. It is also possible to use other external forces for effecting de-agglomeration or de-immobilisation, e.g. ultra-sonics or chemical means. In all cases, the material is reduced to a size such that it can pass through the outlet aperture or apertures, preferably with the assistance of pressure although in certain cases it is possible to rely simply on gravity.
The method of the invention may be used for recovery of biological material from the vessel in which a fermentation reaction is effected so that fermentation and separation may be effected sequentially in the same vessel. This is particularly advantageous where it is desired to maintain sterile conditions. It is however also possible simply to supply the biological material in the liquid for immobilisation on supports within the vessel so that a separation from the liquid may then be effected.
Examples of biological material which may be immobilised on a resilient support of high internal voidage and which may be separated therefrom by the method of the invention are given in Table 1 together with uses of such materials.
Table 1
Organism Application
Mixed culture (aerobic) Waste treatment
Mixed culture (anaerobic) Methane, Lactic Acid
Yeast (various strains) Ethanol, cells, beer
Acetobacter Acetic acid
Aspergillus Citric acid, fungal enzymes
Trichoderma Reseii Cellulase
Capsicum sp. (plant cell) Capsaicin
Humulus (plant cell) Hop flavours
Streptomyces sp. Antibiotics
Although specific reference has been made to use of the invention for separating biological material, the invention may also be used for the separation of any fine particulate solids (e.g. inorganic material) from a liquid, provided that these solids may be agglomerated or immobilised on a support.
The invention will be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of one embodiment of the invention.
The apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a fermentation reactor 1, in which the biological material may be produced as a pure or mixed culture. incorporating an upper piston 2 and a lower ρiάce 3 having apertures 3a. Piston 2 comprises two s ac d sealing rings 2a to ensure a gas/liquid tight seal as well as stability of the piston. Valves 4-8 are associated with the apparatus as shown, as is a recyling pump 9.
The fermentation reaction will be effected with biological material which is, or becomes, immobilised on a resilient plastics foam material of, for example, 97% void volume. Such materials are well established as supports for biological fermentation reactions (see for example U.K.-A-2 006 181) and for the present example process will be used as supports having a size greater than that of the apertures in plate 3, typically 6-30mm characteristic length.
Prior to the commencement of the fermentation reaction, the supports are introduced into the vessel 1. Nutrient liquid and an inoculum for a particular biological reaction are also added (via valve 4). During fermentation the supports become colonised by the biological material. Where satisfactory immobilisation of the micro-organism to the support does not occur naturally, this can be achieved by the addition of suitable immobilisation agents (e.g. polysaccharides, polyacrylamides or other charged species. Alternatively it may be necessary to modify the surface of the supports (e.g. by ion beam etching) in order to achieve the necessary level of immobilisation. It is also possible to introduce a mixture of two or more biological materials into a vessel containing the supports together with a selective affinity material so that only a selected one of the materials is immobilised on the supports.
During batch fermentation, valves 4 and 6-8 are closed whereas valve 5 may be open so that pump 9 may be operated to allow recirculation of liquid (drained through plate 3) back to the top of reactor 1 to promote mixing. Alternatively, if the process is operated continuously, valves 4, 6 and 7 will be opened to a controlled extent to provide a continuous throughflow while the valve 5 may also be open so that pump 9 may be operated to allow recirculation of liquid (drained through plate 3) back to the top of reactor 1 to promote mixing. The system may also be reconfigured to allow upflow rather than downflow of liquid.
The particular conditions for the fermentation reaction, e.g. time, temperature, concentration of nutrient liquid are well known and are therefore not discussed further.
At the end of fermentation the separation step is commenced by opening valves 4, 5, 6 and 7. Liquid in reactor 1 therefore drains through plate 3 and passes into an effluent line, as clearly illustrated. Displacement air (or other gas) is able to enter the vessel via valve 4.
Since the "particles" of sponge material (on which the biological material is now supported) are of larger size than the apertures in plate 3, they remain in the reactor 1. Additionally, the draining of the liquid through plate 3 involves little or no shear in the liquid, which means that the biological material is not dislodged from the support. Removal of interstitial liquid can be effected at this stage by moving piston 2 to "squeeze" the foam 'particles' gently.
As the next step of separation, valves 5 and 7 are closed and valve 8 is opened. Piston 2 is now moved downwardly through reactor 1 (e.g. by means of air pressure supplied along line la or by mechanical means) and compresses the foam particles between itself and the apertured plate 3. This compreεsive force causes the biological material to be dislodged from the 'particles'. The dislodged material passes through plate 3 and exits via valves 6 and 8 into a product line from which it is collected for further processing as required.
The reactor 1 may be prepared for a further fermentation reaction by closing valves 6 and 8 and withdrawing piston 2. The withdrawal of piston 2 allows the foam particles to resile to their original dimensions and can be used to refill the vessel 1 with fresh nutrient liquid and inoculant via valves 4 and 5. The fermentation reaction may thus be recommenced.
In a modified method of de-immobilising - the biological material from the supports, piston 2 may be pulsed - (without necessarily contacting the support) upwardly and downwardly with valve 6 being open. As the piston is raised, high velocity liquid and/or air is drawn back into vessel 1 and 'scours' the supports causing the biological material to be dislodged. When piston 2 is moved down, liquid is forced out of vessel 1 and causes the biological material to be' passed through plate 3. The piston may, for example, move through 60 cycles/ in or so.
Although Fig. 1 shows the use of a pneumatically operated piston, it is of course possible to use mechanical actuation.
In a modification of the invention the abovedescribed apparatus may be operated as a trickle-bed reactor in which, during the fermentation reaction, nutrient liquid is allowed to trickle through a bed of the particles and the effluent liquid is allowed to drain through valve 6. Periodically biological material is recovered by compressing the particles by means of piston 2, as described above.
To illustrate the invention a test vessel similar to that shown in Fig. 1 was used to grow yeast cells immobilised on reticulated foam supports (6mm cubes) of high internal voidage. The base of the vessel had a diameter of about 2.5 cm and had about 30 holes each with a diameter of about 1.6 mm. The biological material was then recovered by firstly draining liquid from vessel 1, then effecting de-immobilisation of "the biological material and passing this biological material (now in the form of a slurry) through the apertured plate. The results were as shown in Table 2.
Table 2: Production and recovery of yeast cells'
Yeast strain A B C D
(g/i) (g/i) (g/i) (g/D
NCYC 1119 35.8 114 0.05 341 NCYC 1183 35.6 62.5 0.18 159 A = Concentration of yeast cells in vessel 1 (i.e. total mass of cells/total vol of reactor) B = Concentration of yeast cells initially inside foam support particles (i.e. total mass of cells/total volume of foam supports) C = Concentration of yeast cells in effluent stream
(i.e. liquid drained) D = Concentration of yeast cells in slurry after recovery * - All concentrations are on a dry weight basis.
Although not specifically indicated in Table 2, the resilient foam supports (still with immobilised material) were squeezed gently after draining of the 'bulk' liquid to remove interstitial liquid prior co the de-immobilisation of the biological material.
The figures under column 'D' (as compared to those under A and B clearly demonstrate the increase in concentration of the yeast cells after separation in accordance with the invention.
As a further illustration of the invention cells were grown in liquid nutrient medium prior to being recirculated through the vessel in order to effect immobilisation* This was followed by a separation step as described above and demonstrates the use of the invention as a separation (recovery) only device.
Yeast strain A C
( g/i ) ( g/i )
NCYC 1183 29 . 0 48 . 4 NCYC 1183 9 .5 33 .7 NCYC 1183 14 . 0 32 .4 NCYC 1183 3 .3 13 .5
A - Concentration of yeast cells in vessel 1 D - Concentration of yeast cells after recovery * - All concentrations are on a dry weight basis.

Claims

CLAI MS
1. A method of separating or recovering material from a liquid, the material being in the form of agglomerates or being immobilised on a support wherein the liquid is held in a vessel having at least one outlet aperture of a size less than said agglomerates or said supports, removing the liquid, causing the material .to be de-agglomerated or de-immobilised, and then causing the material to pass through said aperture.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said material is biological material.
3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the biological material comprises microbial or plant or animal cells.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the material is immobilised on a support and the support comprises a resilient foam material of substantial internal voidage.
5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the de-immobilisation or de-agglomeration is effected by pressure.
6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material is caused to pass through the aperture or apertures by means of pressure.
7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the de-immobilisation or de-agglomeration is effected at least partly by drawing air and/or liquid back through the apertures.
EP19870904716 1986-07-18 1987-07-20 Recovery of material Withdrawn EP0314699A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8617646 1986-07-18
GB8617646A GB8617646D0 (en) 1986-07-18 1986-07-18 Recovery of biological material

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0314699A1 true EP0314699A1 (en) 1989-05-10

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EP19870904716 Withdrawn EP0314699A1 (en) 1986-07-18 1987-07-20 Recovery of material

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0314699A1 (en)
JP (1) JPH02500005A (en)
AU (1) AU7703187A (en)
GB (1) GB8617646D0 (en)
WO (1) WO1988000614A1 (en)

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GB1525022A (en) * 1975-05-21 1978-09-20 Beecham Group Ltd Cell culture method

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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See references of WO8800614A1 *

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JPH02500005A (en) 1990-01-11
WO1988000614A1 (en) 1988-01-28
GB8617646D0 (en) 1986-08-28
AU7703187A (en) 1988-02-10

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