Enzyme-active fibrous materials and method for preparing same

Abstract

A novel enzyme-active fibrous material is proposed comprising fibers of a rtially aminoacetalized polyvinyl alcohol as the support and an enzyme adsorbed and bonded thereto such as glucose isomerase, invertase, urease and the like. The enzyme-active fibrous material of the invention is readily prepared by dipping fibers of the partially aminoacetalized polyvinyl alcohol in an aqueous solution of the desired enzyme. The enzymatic activity and the physical properties of the fibers are remarkably improved by the use of extra-fine fibers prepared with composite fibers of a partially aminoacetalized polyvinyl alcohol and a polyethyleneoxide subjected to selective leaching away of the latter component or by the use of so-called sheath-and-core type or side-by-side type composite fibers of which one of the components is a partially aminoacetalized polyvinyl alcohol. The enzyme-active fibrous materials of the invention can be used in various industrial processes utilizing enzymatic reactions very conveniently and with high efficiency.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.