JPH0586180B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a bioreactor that can be suitably used to promote various chemical reactions by utilizing the catalytic action of enzymes and microorganisms.

(b) Conventional technology In a conventional bioreactor, a tank-shaped container is filled with a column or the like in which enzymes or microorganisms are immobilized, and a solution to be reacted is introduced into the container to react with the enzyme. Generally, they are designed so that they can be brought into contact in sequence. However, with this type of structure, the temperature of the entire solution to be treated must be controlled in order to ensure the most suitable temperature for the enzyme to perform its catalytic action, but the temperature of the entire solution to be treated must be controlled. It is extremely difficult to maintain the optimum temperature because of the influence of Therefore, the enzyme is likely to be exposed to high temperatures, which deteriorates its activity, or the temperature conditions may be unduly varied, resulting in variations in the quality of the product.

(c) Purpose The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to easily and reliably control the temperature conditions of an enzyme, etc. immobilized at a position where it can come into contact with a reaction fluid. An object of the present invention is to provide a bioreactor that can fully and stably exhibit the functions of the enzyme, etc.

(d) Configuration In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following features:
A heat exchanger configured to allow a reaction fluid to flow through a passageway and a heat medium to flow through a second passageway adjacent to the passageway, and a heat exchange plate provided in a first passageway of the heat exchanger. It is characterized by comprising an enzyme or a microorganism immobilized on the fins.

(H) Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire bioreactor according to the present invention. This bioreactor includes a heat exchanger 1 and plate fins 2 of this heat exchanger 1.
and the enzyme 3 immobilized on the. To be more specific, the heat exchanger 1 includes a partition plate 4 made of aluminum.
and plate fins 2 and 6 are alternately laminated and fixed, for example, a first passage 7 opening on one side formed in an even numbered stage.
A suitable solution A serving as a reaction fluid is allowed to flow through the second channel 8, and a heat medium B can be caused to flow through a second passage 8 formed at the decimal stage and opening on the other side.
For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the plate fins 2, 6 are made by pressing a single thin plate, and have upper surfaces 2a, 6a and lower surfaces 2.
b, 6b are joined to the partition plate 4 by brazing or diffusion bonding. Note that the surface portion 2c of the plate fin 2 interposed in the first passage 7 is subjected to a porous anodic oxide coating treatment (anodization treatment).
By applying a large number of regular micropores 9
has been formed. The enzyme 3 is adsorbed and immobilized within these micropores 9. When performing porous anodic oxide film treatment, phosphoric acid or the like is used as an electrolytic solution, thereby making the diameter d of each of the micropores 9, for example, about 100 nm.

With such a configuration, the first passage 7
The solution A flowing through the passage 7 comes into contact with the enzyme 3 immobilized on the plate fin 2 in the passage 7.
Therefore, the enzyme 3 corresponding to the type of solution A and the reaction to be promoted is selected and the plate fin 2 is
If it is immobilized, it will function as a bioreactor. Furthermore, in this case, the enzyme 3 is immobilized on the plate fin 2, which is most susceptible to the thermal influence of the heat medium B flowing through the second passage 8. Therefore, it is easy to maintain the temperature conditions of the enzyme 3 itself at an optimal value, and it is possible to maximize the catalytic function of the enzyme 3. Specifically, the heat generated when the enzyme 3 works can be taken out directly to the heat medium B side through the plate fins 2, so that even the enzyme 3, whose activity deteriorates at high temperatures, can be easily activated. Further, even if the quality of the product changes depending on the temperature conditions under which the enzyme 3 operates, the quality can be stabilized as long as the heat medium B at a constant temperature is allowed to flow through the second passage 8. Furthermore, if necessary, the activity temperature of the enzyme 3 can be easily and reliably changed by controlling the temperature of the heat medium B.

Note that what is immobilized on the plate fins is not limited to enzymes, but may also be microorganisms.

Furthermore, it goes without saying that the method for immobilizing enzymes etc. on plate fins is not limited to the above method.
For example, a polymeric material may be adhered or welded to the surface of the plate fin, and enzymes or the like may be immobilized in the gaps between these polymers.

Furthermore, the flow direction of the reaction fluid and the heat medium in the heat exchanger may be parallel flow or cross flow, or the reaction fluid may be flowed in turns.

(f) Effect Since the present invention has the above-described configuration, it is possible to easily and reliably control the temperature conditions of the enzyme, etc. immobilized at a position where it can come into contact with the reaction fluid, and the temperature conditions of the enzyme, etc. It is possible to provide a bioreactor that can fully and stably exhibit its functions.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a perspective view, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing a surface portion of a plate fin. 1...Heat exchanger, 2...Plate fin, 3...
...enzyme, 7...first passage, 8...second passage,
A...Reaction fluid (solution), B...Heating medium.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A heat exchanger configured to allow a reaction fluid to flow through a first passage and a heat medium to flow through a second passage adjacent to the passage;
1. A bioreactor comprising enzymes or microorganisms immobilized on plate fins for heat exchange provided in the passages of the bioreactor. 2. The bioreactor according to claim 1, wherein enzymes or microorganisms are directly immobilized on the surface of plate fins treated with a porous anodic oxide film. 3. The bioreactor according to claim 1, wherein the enzyme or microorganism is adsorbed and immobilized on a polymeric material attached to the surface of the plate fin.