Abstract: A method for preventing the deterioration of leather by controlling the growth of fungus, wherein the leather is contacted with TCMTB and a thiophanate compound present in a combined amount synergistically effective to control the growth of at least one fungus.

Abstract: A method for the continuous culturing of microbes in a plug-flow reactor which comprises the steps of:A. supplying medium to microbes immobilized on a porous inorganic support at a rate sufficient to maintain such microbes substantially in a logarithmic growth stateandB. removing microbe-containing effluent from the immobilized microbes at a rate equal to the medium supply rate, wherein the microbes are selected from the group consisting of bacteria, yeasts, and fungus-like organisms; such reactor is operated continuously in a substantially plug-flow mode; the immobilized microbes are substantially covered by said medium; and such porous inorganic support has a controlled porosity such that at least 70% of the pores, on a pore size distribution basis, have a pore diameter,a. in the case of bacteria, at least as large as the smallest major dimension of the microbes but less than about five times the largest major dimension of the microbes;b.

Abstract: Bacteria immobilized by adsorption on an inorganic carrier are stabilized by carrying out the adsorption procedure in the presence of from about 1 to about 20% weight per volume of sucrose of nonfat dry milk solids and lyophilizing the adsorbed bacteria.

Abstract: Immobilized microbe composite comprising a porous, high surface area inorganic support having a controlled population of microbes bonded to the internal surfaces of the pores, the support being water insoluble, non-toxic to the microbes, and having a controlled porosity such that at least 70% of the pores, on a pore size distribution basis, have a pore diameter at least as large as the smallest major dimension of the microbes but less than about five times the largest major dimension of the microbes. The composites are especially useful in situations requiring a high biomass surface within a relatively small volume.

Abstract: Immobilized microbe composite comprising a porous, high surface area inorganic support having a controlled population of yeast cells bonded to the internal surfaces of the pores, the support being water insoluble, non-toxic to the cells, and having a controlled porosity such that at least 70% of the pores, on a pore size distribution basis, have a pore diameter at least as large as the smallest dimension of the cells but less than about four times the largest dimension of the cells. The composites are especially useful in situations requiring a high biomass surface within a relatively small volume.

Abstract: Immobilized microbe composite comprising a porous, high surface area inorganic support having a controlled population of fungus-like microbes bonded to the internal surfaces of the pores, the support being water insoluble, non-toxic to the microbes, and having a controlled porosity such that at least 70% of the pores, on a pore size distribution basis, have a pore diameter at least as large as the smallest diameter of the fungal spore but less than about sixteen times the largest spore diameter. The composites are especially useful in situations requiring a high biomass surface within a relatively small volume.