Growth of yeast cells immobilized with porous swelling carriers produced by radiation polymerization

A new method of immobilization of yeast cells for the advantageous growth of cells inside and on the surface of a polymer carrier by physical adsorption is proposed. Porous and swellable polymer carriers were prepared by radiation-induced polymerization at low temperature. These polymer carriers were incubated with yeast cells at 30°C under aerobic conditions. Yeast cells were adsorbed on the surface of polymer carriers and subsequently infiltrated the polymer carriers by multiplication. The ethanol productivity of immobilized growing yeast cells thus obtained was thirteen times that of free yeast cells in a 1:1 volume of liquid medium to immobilized yeast cells.