Method for isolating an enzyme from a fermentation broth

Abstract

To obtain enzymes from an enzyme-containing suspension, such as fermentation broth, the suspension is placed, together with particulate material capable of binding enzyme, such as ion exchange resin, in a vertical container. An ascending stream of inert gas, such as dry nitrogen, is passed through the resulting composition at a rate sufficient for fluidization. The resulting composition is mixed and evaporated until an adequate amount of enzyme is bound to the particulate material. Concentration of enzyme in the suspension is directly proportional to the amount of enzyme bound to particulate material. The residual suspension is forced out of the container by a pulse of compressed gas, and the bound enzyme is eluted. To speed up the process, the stream of gas and/or the composition are heated to enzyme-tolerated temperatures. The resulting composition can be further subjected to a washing step after removal of the residual suspension and prior to elution of the enzyme. The washing liquid can be passed through another fixed bed column containing particulate material capable of binding enzyme. Elution of the enzyme can be carried out as a stepwise process.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.