Mechanical disintegration of microorganisms in an industrial homogenizer

Abstract

Abstract Disintegration of microorganisms in a continuously working industrial homogenizer has been studied. The homogenizer consists of rotating discs in a cylinder filled with glass beads. Different parameters for disintegration of baker's yeast were investigated. The disintegration process is a first‐order reaction and it is influenced by the flow rate of the suspension and by the agitator speed. At a flow rate of 200 liters/hr about 85% of the yeast cells can be disrupted in a single pass through the disintegrator. This type of disintegrator can be used for disruption of cells in order to produce single‐cell protein, active enzymes and other valuable cell components.