PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURE OF 6 ALPHA-METHYLPREDNISOLONE AND APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT SAME Russian patent published in 1994 - IPC

FIELD: chemistry; bioengineering. SUBSTANCE: this process for manufacture of 6 alpha-methylprednisolone prescribes carrying out process of microbiological transformation of 6 alpha-methyl hydrocortisone in two stages in nongrowing medium using Arthrobacter globiformis 193 bacteria cells immobilized into polyacrylamide gel. First stage involves hydrocortisone as substrate and inducer and terminates in pouring off reaction medium. In the second stage, 6 alpha-methylprednisolone is subjected to multiple transformation and desired product is isolated from reaction medium. Prednisolone is additionally extracted from reaction medium in the second stage. Disclosed process is to be carried in purpose-design apparatus. Reaction mixture is agitated in apparatus reservoir 1 housing axial turbine 7. Decrease in content of oxygen dissolved in reaction mixture demands opening valve 12 disposed on pipe 2 to admit compressed air into space under turbine 7 and building up air pressure existing in reservoir 1 to point within range of 0.1 to 0.3 kg/sq. cm. Air admitted into space under turbine 7 expels reaction mixture from working zone to enable turbine to rotate idly. Used air freely flows out of reaction mixture to enter supraliquid space. Further steps are closure of valve 12 and opening of valve 13 via which excess air existing in above-liquid space in reactor is vented into atmosphere. In addition, disclosed apparatus has gas discharge pipe 3 and circulation pipe 4 with shell 5 and deflecting plates 6. Turbine 7 is provided with blades 8. Aerator 9 is made in the form of pipe 10 with funnel 11. EFFECT: better aeration of entire system and acceleration of process due to scaled up specific activity of cells and improved aeration. 2 cl, 5 dwg, 1 tbl