REACTOR PROVIDED WITH FLUIDIZED CHAMBER

Abstract: A reactor provided with a fluidized chamber is characterized in that the fluidized chamber is connected with a column chamber, an inner tube movable in the fluidized chamber is provided, the inner tube is arranged to be brought into contact with the column chamber through the fluidized chamber and nets for preventing outflow of immobilized biocatalyst, gel, immobilized carrier or the like are provided at the head opening of the inner tube and the column chamber, respectively.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for reducing difficulties of washing and disinfecting immobilized enzymes or immobilized myceliums (hereinafter referred to as immobilized biocatalyst) and absorption of useful materials to gel, immobilized carrier or the like in a reactor which is used when using a raw material including materials to which protein or the like is easily attached. Heretofore, the art of production by the immobilized biocatalyst has been extremely innovated and there are many reactors such as packed layer type, fluidized bed type, stirred tank type and membrane type reactors applied to the above-mentioned field. In regard to the art of washing and disinfecting the immobilized biocatalyst in the reactors, there is disclosed in the Japanese Patent Publication No.33873/87. In the above invention, a reactor is connected to an apparatus for washing and disinfecting the immobilized biocatalyst through a closed circuit so as to enable a cycle carriage of the immobilized biocatalyst dispersed in water. In the invention of said Japanese Patent Publication No. 33873/87, the apparatus for washing-disinfecting and the reactor are disposed separately, therefore, the apparatus for washing-disinfecting cannot be driven when the reactor is in used, resulting in bad efficiency, and there needs to be another separate space for providing the apparatus for washing-disinfecting, resulting in uneconomical increase of cost. Further, despite the closed circuit, the reactor and the apparatus for washing-disinfecting are connected with each other through pipes and valves, therefore it is possible that the immobilized biocatalyst is contaminated by the above connecting means. Further, in the washing-disinfecting operation using the prior fluidized chamber, there need to be driving systems for stirring or washing, because the column chamber and the immobilized biocatalyst are washed separately. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for reducing difficulties of washing-disinfecting of immobilized biocatalyst and absorption of useful materials to gel, immobilized carrier or the like without providing another separate space for a means for washing-disinfecting and driving systems for stirring or washing. According to the present invention, so as to attain the above-mentioned object, there is provided a reactor provided with a fluidized chamber characterized in that the fluidized chamber is connected with a column chamber having a net for preventing outflow of immobilized biocatalyst, gel, immobilized carrier or the like therein, an inner tube having a net for preventing outflow of immobilized biocatalyst, gel, immobilized carrier or the like at its head opening extends through the fluidized chamber to the column chamber so as to have a contact with the column chamber and the inner tube is arranged to be movable in the fluidized chamber. In regard to the operation of the reactor provided with the fluidized chamber according to the present invention, an embodiment of elution, washing and disinfecting will be explained based on Fig. 1. A solution containing substrate is introduced into an inner tube 12 from an inlet 12A and descends to a packed chamber 17 through an upper net for preventing outflow 14 so as to react with the immobilized biocatalyst packed in the packed chamber 17. The reacted solution flow to a next step through a lower net for preventing outflow 15 when washing and disinfecting the immobilized biocatalyst is conducted because of the large pressure loss caused by attachment of protein or the like to the immobilized biocatalyst, the inner tube 12 is taken up so as to bring an outer surface of a head opening 13 into contact with an inner surface of an upper surface of funnel portion 4. Washing liquid is introduced into the reactor at high pressure through a funnel tube 9 and discharged from the head opening 13 through the inner tube 12. With this, the immobilized biocatalyst can be moved freely from the upper net for preventing outflow 14 of the upper funnel portion 4 of the fluidized chamber 2 to the lower net for preventing outflow 15 disposed at lower portion of a column chamber 3 and therefore a vortex flow of the washing liquid is generated mainly in the fluidized chamber 2 and the immobilized biocatalyst is stirred and washed by said vortex flow. After washing, the immobilized biocatalyst is sterilized by a surface active agent such as quaternary ammonium salt and said sterilizing operation is also conducted by introducing the disinfection liquid into the reactor at high pressure through the funnel tube 9 and discharging the liquid from the head opening 13 through the inner tube 12 by the same way as the above-mentioned washing operation. Thereafter when stopping supply of the disinfection solvent, the washed and sterilized immobilized biocatalyst is fallen to the column chamber 3. Thereafter, the outer periphery of the head opening 13 of the inner tube 12 is brought into contact with an inner surface 3A of the column chamber 3. The remaining liquid in the fluidized chamber is discharged from an outlet for the washing liquid or the like 10 disposed at higher position than the head opening 13. The reactor provided with the fluidized chamber according to the present invention has following advantages: In the reactor provided with the fluidized chamber according to the present invention, because the means for washing and disinfecting the immobilized biocatalyst is integrally provided in the reactor, there is no need to provide another separate space for the means for washing and disinfecting the immobilized biocatalyst, therefore it becomes very effective and economical. Further, in the reactor provided with the fluidized chamber according to the present invention, because the pipe and the valve assembly for washing and disinfecting is not arranged out of the reactor, the immobilized biocatalyst is not contaminated by those assemblies. Further, there is no need to provide the driving systems for stirring and washing, because the washing liquid and the disinfection liquid are introduced into the reactor at high pressure. Further, in the reactor provided with fluidized chamber according to the present invention, the absorption of the useful material to gel, immobilized carrier or the like can be conducted. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objections of the invention will be seen by reference to the description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view including partial section view, which shows one embodiment of the reactor provided with the fluidized chamber according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the reactor provided with the fluidized chamber described in Fig. 1, and Fig.3 is a detailed explanational view showing the column chamber. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, as shown in Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 shows a reactor wherein a hollow column chamber 3 is connected with a down portion of a hollow fluidized chamber 2 . The fluidized chamber 2 is formed by a central cylinder portion 5, an upper funnel portion 4 and lower funnel portion 6. The lower flange 4B of the upper funnel portion 4 and the upper flange 5A of the cylinder portion 5, and the lower flange 5B of the cylinder portion 5 and the upper flange 6A of the lower funnel portion 6 are bolted, respectively. There is provided a flange 6B at the lower portion of the lower funnel portion 6, which flange 6B is connected with an upper flange 3A of the column chamber 3 through a clamp coupling 7. The lower flange 3B of the column chamber 3 is connected with the upper flange 9A of the funnel tube 9 through a clamp coupling 8. There is provided an outlet 10 for washing liquid or the like at the upper portion of the column 3 and a jacket 11 is provided about the outer periphery of the lower portion of the column chamber 3. The reference numerals 11A and 11B show an inlet and an outlet for cooling water filled in the jacket 11. The reference numeral 12 shows an inner tube, which extends through an inlet 4A for the inner tube and has a funnel head opening at one end portion thereof. A net for providing outflow 14 is provided on the outer surface of the head opening 13. The outer periphery of the head opening 13 is adjusted to contact with an inner wall 3A of the column chamber 3. The inner tube 12 can be moved up and down , therefore when washing and disinfecting an immobilized biocatalyst, the inner tube 12 is taken up so as to bring the outer surface of the head opening 13 into contact with the upper inner surface of the upper funnel portion 4. The reference numeral 20 shows an air vent and the reference numeral 21 shows a portion to which the funnel head opening 13 is fitted. Another net for preventing outflow 15 is provided at the lower end portion of the column 3. The immobilized biocatalyst 16 is packed chamber 17 determined by the net for preventing outflow 14, the inner wall 3A and the net for preventing outflow 15. Referring to Fig. 3, the reference numeral 18 shows an output port for taking out a sample of the immobilized biocatalyst and the reference numeral 19 shows a sample tube which can be freely inserted into and out of the output 18. A pinchcock (not shown) is provided at the end of thereof. The liquid filled in the packed chamber 17 and the immobilized biocatalyst can be freely taken out by inserting the sample tube 19 into and out of the output port 18 for the sample. Since the inner pressure in the column chamber is higher than the atomospher pressure, there is no need to use a particular technical means for taking out the liquid the immobilized biocatalyst. Thus the situation of washing -disinfecting of the immobilized biocatalyst and the elution capacity can be estimated by examining the sample taken out of the head opening 18. Further the reactor according to the present invention is not limited to a downward flow type packed layer reactor and can be adapted to a upward flow type packed layer reactor and also can be adapted to a fluidized bed reactor. Further, while maintaining a situation such that the inner tube 12 is taken out so as to bring the outer surface of the head opening 13 into contact with the upper inner surface of the upper funnel portion 4, a useful material can be applied through the tube 9 and be absorbed by gel or immobilized carrier filled between the net for preventing outflow 14 and the net for preventing outflow 15.

Claims: A reactor provided with a fluidized chamber which characterized in that the fluidized chamber is connected with a column chamber having a net for preventing outflow therein, an inner tube having another set for preventing outflow at its head opening portion extends through the fluidized chamber to the column chamber so as to have a contact with the column chamber and the inner tube can be moved up and down freely in the fluidized chamber. A reactor according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the head opening of the inner tube is funnel or cylindrical. A reactor according to claim 2, wherein the head opening of the inner tube is brought into contact with an inside of the column chamber. A reactor according to claim 3, wherein the net for preventing outflow is provided in a surface opposite to a surface connected with the fluidized chamber in the column chamber. A reactor according to claim 4, wherein a fit portion fitting to the head opening of the inner tube is provided in a surface opposite to a surface connected with the column chamber in the fluidized chamber. A reactor according to any one of claim 1 to 5, wherein a jacket is provided around an outer periphery of the column chamber. A reactor according to claim 1, wherein the column chamber is provided below the fluidized chamber. A reactor according to claim 7, wherein an outlet for washing liquid or the like is provided adjacent to the fluidized chamber and the column chamber.

Inventors: AONO, KOJI, DOKI, RYOICHI, KUWAZURU, MAMURO, NAKAMURA, TETSUO, SHIMODA, KOUZOU, SHUKUNOBE, YUKITAKA, YOSHIDA, TOMOE
Applicants: IWAI KIKAI KOGYO CO., LTD., SNOW BRAND MILK PRODUCTS CO., LTD.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: C12M1
IPC codes: C12M1