Abstract: The invention relates to the process for the isolation of a pharmaceutically acceptable alkali metal salt of clavulanic acid from a fermentation broth containing impure clavulanic acid comprising the steps of filtration of the fermented broth, extraction of the clavulanic acid to a water immiscible or partly water immiscible solvent at pH from 1.2-2, precipitation of an alkali metal salt A of clavulanic acid by addition of a solution of an alkali metal alkylalkanoate, characterized by the following steps: before the filtration the fermented broth containing clavulanic acid is diluted with water, a flocculating agent is added and the pH is adjusted to 3-5 for further purification the alkali metal salt A of clavulanic acid is converted to clavulanic acid by addition of an inorganic acid and is extracted into a water immiscible or partly water immiscible solvent a solution of a different alkali metal B alkyl alkanoate is added and the alkali metal salt B of clavulanic acid is precipitated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new biocatalytic reactor to utilize succfully insoluble biocatalysts to carry out enzymatic reactions. It is especially adequate for the processing of enzymatic reactions using gel-like structure insoluble biocatalysts by eliminating the problems of high pressure drops, microbial contamination and mechanical disintegration which arise when conventional packed columns or agitated tanks are used.It is also adequate to utilize rigid insoluble biocatalysts to process enzymatic reactions with viscous or particulate substrates.