Bioacetylation of seaweed alginate.

Seaweed alginate was acetylated by intact, resting cells of Pseudomonas syringae ATCC 19304. Maximum acetylation of this polymer occurred at a pH of 6.0 and a temperature of 25 deg C. Aeration and gluconic acid were required for an optimal reaction. A reactor which contained carbon-immobilized cells was constructed to continuously acetylate alginate. The maximal yield of acetylation was about 90%, and the half-life of this system was 6.5 days.