ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Effect of quaternary ammonium silane coating on adhesive immobilization of industrial yeasts

Dorota Kregiel and Joanna Berlowska

Institute of Fermentation Technology and Microbiology, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 171/173, 90-924, Lodz, Poland

E-mail: dorota.kregiel@p.lodz.pl

Abstract: The aim of the research was to study how the surface coating with quaternary ammonium silanes influences the attachment of industrial yeast cells. Three brewery and distillery strains belonging to Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and one strain of Debaryomyces occidentalis with high amylolytic activity were used in this study. Native chamotte carriers were modified using two organo-silanes with different functional groups containing ethanolamine ([3-N(N,N,N-dimethyl(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonio)propyl]trimethoxysilane) and octan-1-amine (octylamine) ([3-N(N,N,N-dimethyl-octylammonio)propyl]trimethoxysilane). The yeast cell surface charge was evaluated using an alcian blue retention assay. To determine the adhesion efficiency, light microscopy and methylene blue staining of cells were used. The viability of immobilized cells was confirmed by [2-chloro-4-(2,3 dihydro-3-methyl(benzo-1,3-thiozol-2-yl)-methylidene)-1-phenylquinolinium iodide] (FUN®1) staining. Modification of chamotte carriers increased the biomass load significantly; however, organo-silane with octylamine showed strong anti-yeast properties. This paper describes the use of inexpensive porous chamotte covered with active organo-silanes with quaternary ammonium groups as a way to improve yeast cell adhesion efficiency.

Keywords: yeasts – adhesion – chamotte – quaternary ammonium silanes

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.2478/s11696-013-0462-1

Chemical Papers 68 (3) 308–315 (2014)