METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A SIMPLE LABORATORY-SCALE NONWOVEN FILAMENT BIOCATALYTIC FILTER

A method is described for constructing a simple laboratory-scale nonwo ven filament biocatalytic filter (FBF) from multilayer acrylic vinyl a cetate copolymer coated thread (yarn) potentially useful for investiga tion of biotransformations using entrapped enzymes or viable microorga nisms. The porous structure of a commercial 128 mu m, 279 denier, 100% polyester thread was sealed with a latex coat (precoat), then coated with a latex + sulfanilamide-azocasein mixture, and finally coated wit h a latex top coat to generate the multilayer coated thread. The FBF w as constructed by drawing the thread across a 4 cm diameter rubber O-r ing in the form of multiple layers and sealing the layers with silicon e sealer. The FBF is combatible with a commercially available filter h ousing containing a flow distributor. A method for characterizing the permeability of the sealant (top) coat of the FBF using azocasein rele ase was also developed.