Apparatus for separating cells and producing microbial polysaccharides

An apparatus for separating microbial cells from a liquid containing said microbial cells, or for facilitating a method for producing a cellular reaction product in a liquid, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a matrix of a fibrous material treated with at least one microbial polysaccharide, and having an interior and an outer surface;
• (b) liquid application dispenser for dispensing said liquid into said interior of said matrix of said fibrous material such that said microbial cells are attached to said matrix of a fibrous material, said attachment mediated by said at least one microbial polysaccharide;
• and
• (c) a spinner adapted to spin said matrix of said fibrous material such that said liquid, once in said interior of said matrix of said fibrous material, moves out of said outer surface of said matrix of said fibrous material.

An apparatus for facilitating a method for producing at least one cellular reaction product from at least one substrate substance in a liquid, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a matrix of a fibrous material having an interior and an outer surface, said fibrous material treated with at least one microbial polysaccharide and having adsorbed thereupon microbial cells of a microorganism capable of converting said at least one substrate substance to said at least one cellular reaction product;
• (b) liquid application dispenser for dispensing said liquid into said interior of said matrix of said fibrous material;
• and
• (c) a spinner adapted to spin said matrix of a fibrous material such that said liquid, once in said interior of said matrix of said fibrous material, moves through said matrix of a fibrous material toward said outer surface of said matrix of said fibrous material so as to bring said liquid in contact with said microbial cells of said microorganism.

An apparatus for facilitating a method for producing at least one cellular reaction product from at least one substrate substance in a liquid, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a matrix of a fibrous material having an interior and an outer surface, said fibrous material treated with at least one microbial polysaccharide and having adsorbed thereupon microbial cells of a microorganism capable of converting said at least one substrate substance to said at least one cellular reaction product;
• (b) a reaction vessel for holding said liquid;
• and
• (c) a transport device adapted to move said matrix of said fibrous material and said liquid relative to one another.

An apparatus for facilitating a method for producing at least one reaction product from at least one substrate substance, in a liquid, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a matrix of fibrous material;
• (b) a reaction vessel for holding a liquid, said matrix of fibrous material disposed in said reaction vessel;
• and
• (c) a transport device adapted to move said matrix of said fibrous material and said liquid relative to one another, said liquid containing at least one microbial polysaccharide and microbial cells of a microorganism capable of converting said at least one substrate substance to said at least one reaction product, wherein adsorption of said microbial cells onto said matrix of fibrous material is mediated by said at least one microbial polysaccharide.

An apparatus for facilitating a method for producing at least one reaction product from at least one substrate substance, in a liquid, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a matrix of fibrous material having an interior and an outer surface;
• (b) liquid application dispenser for dispensing said liquid into said interior of said matrix of fibrous material;
• and
• (c) a spinner adapted to spin said matrix of fibrous material such that said liquid, once in said interior of said matrix of fibrous material, moves through said matrix of fibrous material toward said outer surface of said matrix of fibrous material so as to bring said liquid in contact with microbial cells of a microorganism, wherein said liquid contains at least one microbial polysaccharide and microbial cells of a microorganism capable of converting said at least one substrate substance to said at least one reaction product, wherein adsorption of said microbial cells onto said matrix of fibrous material is mediated by said at least one microbial polysaccharide.