Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Animal cell – per se ; composition thereof; process of... – Solid support and method of culturing cells on said solid...
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-12
2001-04-10
Naff, David M. (Department: 1651)
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Animal cell, per se ; composition thereof; process of...
Solid support and method of culturing cells on said solid...
C210S601000, C210S610000, C210S611000, C435S180000, C435S396000, C435S262500, C435S289100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06214619
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a bioreactor carrier for use as a carrier to which animal cells, plant cells, microorganisms and/or protozoans are fixed to obtain a bioreactor for substance production, harmful substance treatment, waste oil treatment, wastewater treatment, deodorization and the like, and to a method of treating wastewater using the carrier.
2. Description of the Background Art
The carriers used in bioreactors are of two types: porous and gel (nonporous).
Porous carriers include those made of polyurethane, cellulose, polypropylene, polyvinyl formal and ceramic.
The porosity of these carriers gives them a large surface area. They are frequently used with animal cells, plant cells and/or microorganisms fixed to their porous surfaces.
Gel carriers include those made of polyurethane, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide and alginic acid.
Although these gel carriers are generally used with animal cells, plant cells and/or microorganisms fixed by envelopment within the gel, they can also be used with animal cells, plant cells and/or microorganisms fixed to the gel surface.
Both the porous carrier and the gel carrier improve bioreactor treatment performance by retaining large numbers of the desired animal cells, plant cells and/or microorganisms. Their effect is consequently limited during startup, i.e., until the animal cells, plant cells and/or microorganisms have adhered to the carrier.
A preculture period is therefore particularly necessary when using slow-breeding animal and plant cells and/or autotrophic microorganisms.
Animal cell, plant cell and/or microorganism growth is also adversely affected when the nutrient environment in the bioreactor deviates from the optimum one for proliferation of the desired animal cells, plant cells and/or microorganisms.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. 3-258398 and 4-320685 and Japanese Patent Application No. 8-139723, for example, teach that selective retention of desired animal cells, plant cells and/or microorganisms can be achieved by enveloping the cells and/or microorganisms in the carrier at the time it is produced. However, the production, storage and transport of the disclosed carriers must be conducted under restrictions regarding temperature, humidity, oxygen exposure and the like so as not to adversely affect microorganism growth.
As explained in the foregoing, one or the other of two ways must be used to secure preferential growth and proliferation of desired animal cells, plant cells and/or microorganisms at the surface or interior of the carrier. One is to use some method to envelop the microorganisms within, or adhere them to the surface of, the carrier in advance. The other is to culture them for whatever time necessary in a culture medium whose nutrient conditions have been optimized for the desired microorganisms. The invention is directed to overcoming the foregoing problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a carrier for a bioreactor comprising an organic polymer substance which contains at least one substance utilizable as a nutrient by animal cells, plant cells and/or microorganisms useful in the bioreactor, e.g., an inorganic salt, an organic nitrogen source or an organic carbon source, and exhibits a water absorptivity of 50 to 1,700%. The invention also provides a method of biologically purifying wastewater in the presence of activated sludge in a reactor into which the bioreactor carrier has been cast.
The inorganic salt, organic nitrogen source and/or organic carbon source content is 5 to 100% based on the weight of the organic polymer substance.
Since the carrier according to the invention contains more substances utilizable as nutrients by microorganisms than ordinary carriers, it excels in power to retain microorganisms on its surface and in its interior.
Microorganisms multiply rapidly at the surface and interior of the carrier. The carrier exhibits particularly outstanding effect when used for microorganisms in wastewater treatment because it enables BOD digest bacteria, nitrification bacteria, denitrification bacteria and the like to proliferate rapidly. The wastewater treatment system can therefore be brought into service quickly. Moreover, preferential adherence and proliferation of desired microorganisms is possible by appropriately selecting the substances incorporated as microorganism nutrients. This is explained in detail below.
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patent: 0 304 143 (1989-02-01), None
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patent: 4-320685 (1992-11-01), None
patent: 9-51794 (1997-02-01), None
patent: WO95/08513 (1995-03-01), None
Sato Takaya
Uehara Tsutomu
Yoshida Hiroshi
Naff David M.
Nisshinbo Industries Inc.
Wenderoth , Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.
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