COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF FIVE POROUS SUPPORTS FOR YEAST IMMOBILISATION BY ADSORPTION/ATTACHMENT

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Abstract
Five different porous carriers for brewing yeast immobilisation were compared and evaluated for suitability in a fluidised bed reactor system. Carrier morphology as revealed by scanning electron microscopy, yeast cell load per mass of carrier, minimum fluidisation velocity, and practical aspects of carrier usage were investigated. Electron microscopy revealed both surface attachment and absorption of yeast within carrier pores, depending on the carrier. Carrier pore structure was found to be important: carriers with deep subsurface cavities and narrow pore entrances gave highest levels of yeast immobilisation. The carrier of choice was the smallest diameter porous glass carrier, SIKUG41. SIKUG41 exhibited no practical physical limitations, gave second highest yeast cell loading, and the second lowest minimum fluidisation velocity.