Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 21415 cells were immobilized on different carriers using different methods of immobilization
including physical adsorption, covalent binding, ionic binding and entrapment. The immobilized cells were prepared by
covalent binding on wool (as a new carrier) through 1% glutaraldehyde had the highest enzyme activity (9.0 U/mL) with
the highest specific productivity (6.17 U/g wet cells/h). Alkaline protease production and the stability of biocatalyst were
investigated in both free and immobilized cells. The results showed that the immobilized cells were more efficient for
enzyme production by repeated batch fermentation (5 cycles, 480 h) with 57% residual activity whereas the free cells
retained 35% after 2 cycles. In continuous production the highest enzyme activity (9.9 U/mL) was obtained at a dilution
rate of 0.1/h while the highest enzyme yield (763.6 U/h) and the highest reactor productivity (3.32 U/mL/h) were attained
at a dilution rate of 0.4/h. Packed-bed bioreactor was a successful method for continuous production of alkaline protease
for a long time (168 h) with 53% relative activity. The bioreactor affected the highest specific productivity (118.2 U/g wet
cells/h) which was 12-24 times higher than other systems of enzyme production.