6 Operation
43
B-390
Operation Manual, Version E
Table 6-4: Optimal working conditions for the Encapsulator determined with alginate solution
Nozzle diameter [
µ
m] Flow rate * [mL/min] Frequency interval **
Amplitude
Air pressure [bar]
1.0 mm
30 to 40
40 to 220 Hz
2 to 6
0.3 to 0.6
750
µ
m
19 to 25
40 to 300 Hz
2 to 5
0.3 to 0.5
450
µ
m
9 to 14
150 to 450 Hz
2 to 5
0.3 to 0.5
300
µ
m
5.5 to 7
400 to 800 Hz
1 to 3
0.3 to 0.5
200
µ
m
3.5 to 4.5
600 to 1200 Hz
1 to 3
0.4 to 0.6
150
µ
m
2.3 to 2.8
800 to 1800 Hz
1 to 3
0.4 to 0.6
120
µ
m
1.5 to 1.8
1000 to 2500 Hz
1 to 4
0.5 to 0.7
80
µ
m
1.1 to 1.3
1300 to 3000 Hz
1 to 4
0.5 to 0.7
* Tested with 2 % low viscosity grade alginate solution for 750 µm and 1.0 mm nozzle, with 1.5 %
alginate solution for the 150 to 500 µm nozzle and with 1.2 % alginate solution for the 80 and 120 µm
nozzles.
**Upper values with application of high voltage.
NOTE
For solutions with a viscosity different from the tested one, it can be said that:
• the higher the viscosity the higher the minimal jet velocity
• the higher the viscosity the higher the working flow rate
• the higher the viscosity the lower the optimal frequency
• the higher the viscosity the larger the beads
6 .7 .1
Bead productivity and cell density
Figures 6-6
and
6-7
indicate the amount of beads formed from 1 mL of liquid. About 30,000 beads
with a diameter of 0.4 mm will be formed, but only 2,000 with a diameter of 1 mm.
Figures 6-8
and
6-9
indicate the number of cells which are encapsulated in one bead for a given
cell density and bead diameter. These figures may help you select the appropriate cell density in the
immobilization mixture. For example, if the immobilization mixture contains 1×10
6
cells per mL, then
about 33 cells are, on average, in each 0.4 mm bead, but, about 520 cells will be in each 1 mm bead.
