A detailed investigation of microbial cell disruption by hydrodynamic cavitation for selective product release

• Main Author: Bangaru, Balasundaram
• Other Authors: Harrison, STL
• Format: Doctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: University of Cape Town 2014
• Subjects: Bioprocess Engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/5345

Includes bibliographical references. === Hydrodynamic cavitation is a novel method for microbial cell disruption, mediated by intense pressure fluctuations caused by cavity oscillation and collapse. Selective release of intracellular microbial products is desirable to reduce the cost involved in their downstream processing. A study of the process variables that affect microbial cell disruption by hydrodynamic cavitation is presented in order to ascertain the conditions required for a selective release. Two model systems were considered (yeast and E. coil). Enzymes from different locations of the cell were studied and the release compared with other methods of disruption.