title: Diffusivity of oxygen into carriers entrapping whole cells.
abstract: The effective diffusivity of oxygen, D(e), in Ca-alginate and PVA-SbQ gels was measured using a two-chamber vessel with a membrane between the two chambers. The effect of cell density, C(c), on D(e) in Ca-alginate gels was studied. The effective diffusivity of oxygen decreased with increasing cell density, to C(c) = 170 kg dry cells/m(3) gel. The dependency of D(e) on cell density was discussed in terms of a random-pore model. The model correlated well with experimental data, i.e., kD(e)/D(0) = 0.86(1 - 1.47 x 10(-3) C(c))(2). Here, k is the partition coefficient, and D(0) is diffusivity in water.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Furusaki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamauchi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ichimura