A novel immobilization method for prevention of cell leakage from the gel matrix

Abstract A new immobilization method which prevents cell leakage from the polymeric matrix into the medium was developed. In this method, the cells are entrapped in alginate fibers with double gel layers. The cells are restricted to the inner layer only while the outer layer helps to prevent cell leakage. When this system was tested for continuous fermentation, normal ethanol production was maintained for 300 h without cell leakage from the polymeric matrix.