Composite Filter Aid for Cellulase Filtration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The enzymatic activity of cellulase recovered after filtration treatment of a cellulase-containing culture liquid is significantly lower than before filtration, leading to decreased degradation potential and sugar yield when hydrolyzing cellulose-containing biomass.
Innovation Solution
A mixture of an inorganic filter aid, such as diatomaceous earth, and a culture liquid of a filamentous fungus, like Trichoderma or Talaromyces, is used as a filter aid to maintain high enzymatic activity of cellulase during filtration treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional inorganic filter aid (diatomaceous earth) is used for filtration treatment of cellulase-containing culture liquid, then solid-liquid separation is achieved and cells are removed, but the enzymatic activity of recovered cellulase is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an organic filter aid (cellulose or chitin fibers) as an intermediary substance between the inorganic filter aid and the cellulase. This organic filter aid is chemically similar to the substrate (cellulose) and does not inhibit enzyme activity, while still enabling effective filtration. The organic filter aid acts as a mediator that allows separation without the harmful adsorption effects of inorganic materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite filter aid system combining inorganic filter aid (diatomaceous earth) with organic filter aid (cellulose or chitin fibers). This composite approach leverages the porous structure and filtration capability of the inorganic material while the organic component protects the enzyme from adsorption and maintains enzymatic activity. The combination achieves both effective separation and enzyme preservation.
2Productivity
If inorganic filter aid is used to remove suspended matters and cells, then membrane clogging in downstream filtration is avoided, but cellulase enzymatic activity is significantly decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The organic filter aid serves as a protective intermediary that allows the inorganic filter aid to perform its function of preventing membrane clogging while the organic component absorbs the harmful interaction with the enzyme. The organic fibers create a filtration layer that protects downstream membranes from cell and suspended matter accumulation without exposing the cellulase to adsorption by inorganic surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the filter aid system by introducing organic materials (cellulose or chitin) with different surface properties compared to inorganic materials. This parameter change in filter aid composition fundamentally alters the interaction with cellulase, preventing adsorption and maintaining enzymatic activity while preserving filtration effectiveness.
3Quantity of substance
If conventional filtration methods are used to separate cells from culture liquid, then cell removal is achieved, but sugar yield from subsequent biomass hydrolysis is decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The organic filter aid acts as a mediator that enables complete cell removal necessary for downstream processing while preventing enzyme deactivation. By using organic material that does not adsorb cellulase, the system ensures that full enzymatic activity is preserved for subsequent biomass hydrolysis, thereby maintaining maximum sugar yield potential despite aggressive cell separation requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for the recovery of cellulase with maintained high enzymatic activity, thereby preserving the degradation potential and sugar yield from cellulose-containing biomass.
Implementation Method 1
a method of filtration treatment using the filter aid
Data Source
AI summary
In the filtration treatment for removing fungal cells and suspended matters from a cellulase-containing culture liquid in a method for manufacturing cellulase, a mixture of an inorganic filter aid and a culture liquid of filamentous fungus is used as a filter aid to obtain cellulase with its enzymatic activity maintained at a high level.