Immobilization of Yeast Cells in Porous Silica Carrier with Sol-Gel Process

Abstract

The porous silica gels were prepared from tetramethoxysilane (TMOS)-polyethyleneglycol (PEG)-H2O-methanol solution by the sol-gel process. Microstructure of gel was affected by the composition of starting solutions. The pore diameter of porous gels ranged from 0.1μm to 10μm. The pore diameter increased with increasing H2O and H2SO4 contents and with increasing molecular weight of PEG, whilst it decreased with increasing PEG concentration. Yeast cells were immobilized in porous silica gels prepared from TMOS-PEG solutions by the sol-gel process. Yeast cells were immobilized as spores. After incubation, yeast spores germed and growth of the yeasts were comfirmed.