HIGH-PRESSURE DISRUPTION OF YEAST-CELLS - THE USE OF SCALE DOWN OPERATIONS FOR THE PREDICTION OF PROTEIN RELEASE AND CELL DEBRIS SIZE DISTRIBUTION

Experiments were carried out aimed at establishing the effects of equi pment scale down on the disruption of Baker's yeast cells in high pres sure homogenisers. Data are reported on the cell debris particle size distribution (PSD) and on total protein release as a function of the a pplied pressure for two valve geometries and three scales of operation covering flow rates of 28, 60 and 280 L/h. A comparison of the result s from the experiments indicates that over the range of parameters inv estigated both the total protein release and the cell debris PSDs are independent of valve geometry and flow rate through the homogeniser. T hese observations are discussed in the light of relevant previous publ ications. The cell debris PSDs have been simulated by using a recently published model and the total protein release data are described by t he well-established Hetherington expression (Hetherington et al., 1971 ). (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.