Effects of encapsulation of microorganisms on product formation during microbial fermentations
Review article, 2012

This paper reviews the latest developments in microbial products by encapsulated microorganisms in a liquid core surrounded by natural or synthetic membranes. Cells can be encapsulated in one or several steps using liquid droplet formation, pregel dissolving, coacervation, and interfacial polymerization. The use of encapsulated yeast and bacteria for fermentative production of ethanol, lactic acid, biogas, l-phenylacetylcarbinol, 1,3-propanediol, and riboflavin has been investigated. Encapsulated cells have furthermore been used for the biocatalytic conversion of chemicals. Fermentation, using encapsulated cells, offers various advantages compared to traditional cultivations, e.g., higher cell density, faster fermentation, improved tolerance of the cells to toxic media and high temperatures, and selective exclusion of toxic hydrophobic substances. However, mass transfer through the capsule membrane as well as the robustness of the capsules still challenge the utilization of encapsulated cells. The history and the current state of applying microbial encapsulation for production processes, along with the benefits and drawbacks concerning productivity and general physiology of the encapsulated cells, are discussed.

lactococcus-lactis

escherichia-coli

liquid-core capsules

cross-linking

saccharomyces-cerevisiae cells

alginate-chitosan

cell microencapsulation technology

Ethanol

Lactic acid

microcapsules

Whole-cell biocatalyst

Microbial cell

Encapsulation

semipermeable

continuous cultivation

yeast-cells

Author

Johan Westman

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Industrial biotechnology

Päivi Ylitervo

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Industrial biotechnology

Carl Johan Franzén

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Industrial biotechnology

Mohammad Taherzadeh Esfahani

University of Borås

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology

0175-7598 (ISSN) 1432-0614 (eISSN)

Vol. 96 6 1441-1454

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Subject Categories

Industrial Biotechnology

Chemical Engineering

Bioprocess Technology

Microbiology

Chemical Sciences

Areas of Advance

Energy

Life Science Engineering (2010-2018)

DOI

10.1007/s00253-012-4517-y

More information

Latest update

7/20/2021