Delignified cellulosic material supported biocatalyst as freeze-dried product in alcoholic fermentation

Freeze-dried delignified cellulosic (DC) material supported biocatalyst is proposed as a suitable form of biocatalyst to be preserved. The alcoholic f ermentation of glucose using freeze-dried immobilized cells is reported. Fr eeze-dried immobilized baker's yeast cells on DC material do not need any p rotective medium during freeze-drying. The effect of initial glucose concen tration and temperature on the alcoholic fermentation kinetic parameters is reported in the present study. It was found that the freeze-dried immobili zed cells ferment more quickly than free freeze-dried cells and have a lowe r fermentation rate as compared with wet immobilized cells. However, repeat ed batch fermentations showed freeze-dried immobilized cells to ferment at about the same fermentation rate as wet immobilized cells. The results indi cate that the freeze-dried immobilized cells must be further studied to est ablish a process for the preservation of immobilized cells.