DE102006009156A1 - Procedure for disintegration of dried, biological material e.g. plant parts, includes introducing penetration medium into material, distributing the material in carrier medium, and electroporation of mixture of carrier medium and material - Google Patents

Abstract

The procedure for the disintegration of dried, biological material e.g. plant parts, comprises introducing a penetration medium into the material, distributing the material in a carrier medium, and treating mixture of the carrier medium and the biological material by electroporation. The penetration medium sets an electrical conductivity in the biological material. The nature of the carrier medium and the relationship between the carrier medium and the biological material are selected in such a manner that the received mixture has a weak electrical conductivity. The procedure for the disintegration of dried, biological material e.g. plant parts, comprises introducing a penetration medium into the material, distributing the material in a carrier medium, and treating mixture of the carrier medium and the biological material by electroporation. The penetration medium sets an electrical conductivity in the biological material. The nature of the carrier medium and the relationship between the carrier medium and the biological material are selected in such a manner that the received mixture has a weak electrical conductivity. The biological material is supplied to a given volume of the penetration medium and left for a predetermined period of time. The penetration medium, if it is a liquid, is adjusted to a temperature of 20[deg] C, and if it is a gas or vapor, is adjusted to a temperature of 130-150[deg] C. The mixture of biological material and penetration medium is agitated during the time period. The penetration medium is a liquid, and the mixture of the penetration liquid and the biological material is deaerated. The components that are condensed from the gas withdrawn from the mixture of the penetration liquid and the biological material, are isolated. A part of the introduction of penetration medium into the biological material takes place using saturated water vapor having 50-70[deg] C. At temperatures below 100[deg] C, the pressure in the treatment reactor is set in such a manner that the boiling point lies above 100[deg] C. The introduction of the penetration medium takes place by means of treatment in the liquid vapor and through contact with penetration liquid under application of pressure of 2-7 bars. The biological material is mechanically crushed and/or etched in a pre-treatment step and/or exposed to light or ionizing radiation before the introduction of the penetration medium. The material is subjected to a electroporation treatment and fed to an intermediate treatment. The intermediate treatment comprises mechanical crushing, storing, mixing with a caustic etching solution, temperature treatment, pressure treatment, and exposure to light or ionizing radiation. After electroporation, a portion of the biological material is mechanically crushed, treated with the penetration medium and treated by electroporation. A component is extracted from the biological material after the electroporation treatment. A residual portion of the electroporated biological material is again subjected to a pre-crushing treatment and/or a treatment with the penetration medium and another electroporation treatment. The field strength of the electroporation is 3-15 KV/cm and is selected with respect to the size of the cells of the biological materials. The decrease of the voltage potential across a cell of the biological material is 2 V. The electrical conductivity of the electroporated mixture of the carrier medium and the biological material is 30 mS/cm. The duration of the field impulse that is used for electroporation is 100 ns to 50 mu s. The frequency of the field impulse that is used for electroporation is 0.5-40 Hz. During the electroporation, the biological material is exposed to a total number of field impulses of 1-20. The penetration medium distinguishes itself from the carrier medium in its electrical conductivity. The penetration medium is electrically weak conducting oil. The carrier medium is a gas or a vapor. A surfactant is added to the penetration medium. The active substance is extracted from the electroporated material by application of pressure and/or temperature and/or an aqueous or organic solvent, for obtaining an active ingredient from a dried biological material. An independent claim is included for a device for the disintegration of dried, biological material.

Description

drugs as a remedy, dietary supplement, Flavors, fragrances, colors, etc. are used, or otherwise for the lifestyle or industrially utilizable substances that occur in nature, are often found in the cells of biological materials. This biological Materials are composed of cells, each one cell membrane include, which encloses the cell contents.

Around to the different active ingredients in the cell contents, but also in the cell membrane itself are contained, must come to the cell membrane open become. Therefor find particular mechanical methods for destroying the Cell membrane use. Also physical methods (e.g., cooking), chemical processes and biological processes (fermentation and the like) known for releasing drugs.

Under Active ingredient is not just an active ingredient in close pharmacological Meaning, but also everyone (because of presence or Absence) economically interesting substance.

In younger Time is also used to electroporation to open cell membranes. The electroporation however, is limited to those biological materials that water and / or oily cells include.

Some however, biological materials containing active ingredients are included hardly any water or water in their cells. They are e.g. dried parts of plants or parts of plants by home of only low water content, e.g. Barks, certain plant roots or needles of firs, pines etc ..

By the present invention is intended to provide a method which also in such biological materials that no or only a little liquid contain, allows an effective and gentle digestion.

These The object is achieved by a method with the specified in claim 1 Characteristics solved.

By the present invention becomes possible for the first time, even for these Materials a gentle and very effective unlocking the To get cells.

This succeeds in (compared with thermal methods) low energy input and little warming of the biological material and thus gentle. The yield at Extracting active substances and pollutants in one to the catch up subsequent Extraction step is improved. The treatment time is shortened. Also the digestion takes place in total volume substantially synchronous and thus homogeneous.

advantageous Further developments of the method and apparatus of the invention to its implementation are subject of dependent Claims.

The Development of the invention according to claim 2 is with regard to a particularly gentle reintroduction of liquid in the cells of the biological material of advantage.

there the method is characterized according to claim 3 characterized in that the Re-introducing liquid into the cells in a short treatment time.

Of the Claim 4 gives preferred examples of the temperature at which the reintroduction of liquid into the cells.

Also The development of the invention according to claim 5 is used for acceleration the re-introduction of liquid into the cells.

During the Electroporation treatment is the mixture of biological to be treated Material and penetration medium a strong electric field exposed. With the development of the invention according to claim 5 is achieved that this mixture of gaseous Components are released, resulting in breakdowns through the mixture during the Conduct electroporation treatment could.

at gaseous Ingredients which are in the mixture of penetration liquids and biological material can be condensable fumes act, e.g. low-boiling essential oils or like.

With the method according to claim 7 is achieved that this Components collected and reused or controlled Disposal supplied can be.

The specified in claim 8 method is characterized by a particularly gentle reintroduction of liquid into the biological Material off.

there are the developments of the invention according to claims 9 and 10 in terms of good effectiveness and short treatment time of advantage.

The development of the invention according to claim 11 is an intensive and rapid Re-introducing liquid to the interior of the cells of the biological material.

there is the procedure according to claim 12 again with a view to shortening the treatment time of advantage.

At the Introducing penetration medium under pressure have the in the Claim 13 specified prints particularly proven. These prints can be also using pressure-resistant reactors, as they usually do be kept in chemical companies.

The Development of the invention according to claim 14 serves to increase the Surfaces and improving access to the interior of the biological material.

A Mechanical comminution can be done with conventional comminution equipment, in particular mills respectively. As pickling in particular such chemicals, the penetration medium repellent surface layers of the biological Damage material or remove. Also by irradiation with light or ionizing You can blast the surfaces of biological material so that the permeability is improved by penetration medium.

With the development of the invention according to claim 15 is achieved that the treated surfaces of the biological material upon penetration of the penetration medium still available. Also is by the immedi ate further processing of pretreated Material ensures that there no degenerative processes such as oxidation or the like play.

When Improved pre-treatment can also provide access to the cell interior first electroporation method as claimed 16 indicated. Close to this then another electroporation treatment.

According to claim 17 one can still see the effect of the first electroporation treatment reinforce it, that he the returned part of the a material subjected to a first electroporation treatment Intermediate treatment.

claim 18 gives different possibilities for one such intermediate treatment. These are in principle to the same treatments, which are also suitable as pretreatment.

at the method according to claim 19 receives a particularly good penetration of the cell interior with liquid, because at the second penetration step that at the first electroporation created cell wall defects the penetration of liquid into the cell interior.

Also the development of the invention according to claim 20 is in view on a particularly effective introduction of liquid into the interior of the Cells of the biological material of advantage.

The Method according to claim 21 allows one from the electroporated material as an active substance desired or undesirable as pollutant Extract component.

there is the development according to claim 22 in terms of a high Yield of extraction of said components of advantage.

The in claim 23 specified field strengths are particularly good proven for the electroporation of biological materials.

there allows the method of claim 24, the field strength under consideration the size of the cells to optimally adjust the biological material.

At the Electroporating material is applied to the electrodes of the electroporation reactor very short high voltage pulses applied when operating properly to the space between the electrodes substantially uniform filling Carry current pulses, which flow through the mixture to be treated. The electricity is generated at the cells referred to in claim 24 potential difference. For the effectiveness the electroporation treatment is crucial that there, where space is filled by cells of biological material, the stream predominantly passes through the cells and not in the short circuit around the Cells flow around. On the other hand, there must be one Flow of electricity, so that the desired voltage drop across the Cells receives. Does that lead you Electroporation method according to claim 25, so is the conductivity the mixture is adjusted to a value that ensures a good Elektroporationsergebnis.

claim 26 gives preferred values for the length the field pulses used for electroporation.

claim 27 names frequencies with which those used for electroporation Field pulses preferably follow one another.

Claim 28 indicates the total number of field pulses, the biological material currency should be subjected to treatment in the electroporation reactor.

Also the development of the invention according to claim 29 is in terms this is advantageous, the current pulses generated in Elektroporationsreaktor preferably through the interior of the cells of the biological material to lead.

The Method according to claim 30 is dried for common or a little liquid containing biological materials preferred. Also in view on food law or pharmaceutical legislation is water or an aqueous solution preferred penetration medium and / or carrier medium.

For the carrier medium are usually larger volumes needed as for the penetration medium. The carrier medium have to go to the electroporation treatment usually be disposed of. In this respect, the method according to claim 31 particularly advantageous because of the treatment of water and its disposal or reuse proven Methods are known.

For some biological materials, it is advantageous to use a gaseous or vaporous penetration medium or carrier medium to use, as indicated in claim 32.

at the method according to claim 33, the biological material is passed through the electroporation reactor particularly gentle and less Friction on the walls and with little internal friction of the mixture.

The Development of the invention according to claim Figure 34 is for good separation of electroporated material and carrier medium advantageous.

there is the development of the invention according to claim 35 in terms of the separation of the carrier medium of the treated biological material then advantageous if the treated biological material is a hydrous material is.

Also The development of the invention according to claim 36 is in view to an effective and rapid reintroduction of liquid in the biological material of advantage.

The Method according to claim 37 is used for effectively obtaining an active ingredient from the biological Material.

With the method according to claim 38 you can remove pollutants from a biological material.

The Development of the invention according to claim 40 allows the generation of strong high voltage pulses below Use of a not too expensive charging circuit.

at the device according to claim 41 one has a current information about the correct course of the Electroporation treatment and may deviate from the desired course to compensate for the deviation. This can either be over one Working parameters of the pretreatment reactor, a working parameter the electroporation reactor or a working parameter of the conveyor Success conditions, which the mixture through the electroporation reactor moved, or by combinations of the aforementioned influence possibilities.

The Development of the invention according to claim 42 is with regard to the keeping small of gaseous and vaporous components in the pretreated mixture of advantage and thus with regard to on preventing punches in the electroporation reactor.

The Development of the invention according to claim 43 is again in view of short treatment time in the pretreatment reactor advantageous.

A Device as stated in claim 44 allows a largely Automated handling of pretreatment and electroporation treatment.

at a device according to claim 45 you can use the screw pump to pressure differences between the pre-treatment reactor and the electroporation reactor adjust. So you can in particular in the pretreatment reactor maintaining a vacuum for Entgasungszwecken while you in the electroporation reactor adjusts an overpressure, which in With regard to the prevention of electrical breakdowns of advantage is.

For this can you at the output of the electroporation reactor a rotary valve, a throttle, a valve, in particular a pinch valve or a other pressure differential absorbing component, e.g. a Provide pump.

is the screw pump also according to claim 45 controllable in their speed, so you can about the throughput of mixture rapidly influence the electroporation treatment by the electroporation reactor to take.

The development of the invention according to An Claim 46 is advantageous with regard to a flexible, rapid and secure adaptation of the working parameters of the device to various biological materials to be treated.

Before embodiments the invention are described in detail, should first general Aspects treated in the realization of the invention being on the more complex case of the digestion of low-liquid biological material. The simpler case of Digestion of biological material whose cells are already sufficient liquid obtained by analogy one the step of the liquid enrichment omits.

Some biological materials containing active ingredients are included in little water or water for their cells. These are e.g. dried plant parts or parts of plants that are from home have only low water content, e.g. Barks, certain plant roots or needles of firs, pines etc ..

According to the invention is the liquid-poor biological material first fed in a first step, a penetration medium, the builds into the cells, and in a second process step become the cell walls the enriched with penetration medium biological material in a carrier medium distributed and destroyed by electroporation.

It come in particular liquid and gaseous Penetration media into consideration. They generally have the task of electric conductivity to set the cells to a value that is in the conductivity spectrum liquid-rich of living cells, e.g. the leaves of deciduous trees, salads and Fruits. In practice, this means a conductivity one of the latter Mash produced from materials of about 0.1 mS / cm to about 100 mS / cm, usually between about 0.5 mS / cm and 30 mS / cm.

Under Biological material is intended in the claims and in the present Description of any material understood in which a cell content is enclosed by a cell wall. It can be both here to eukaryotic materials (such as herbal materials) as well to act prokaryotic cells.

These Materials are not insignificant in the size of their Cells. With smaller cell diameter is a correspondingly higher electrical field strength used in electroporation to cause a voltage drop across the individual cells in the range of about 0.5 V to about 2 V to achieve.

To the Establishing or restoring conductivity in biological cells usable media are defined in the claims and in the description referred to as penetration media, as they pass through the cell walls or faulty parts of the same penetrate into the cell interior.

It These are primarily liquids and gases (in particular Fumes) with corresponding electrical properties.

There many cells containing little or no water contain salts, Often enough, normal water or water vapor in the cells to bring in there electrical conductivity.

Under the appropriate penetration fluids not only is water, but also aqueous solutions, e.g. isotonic saline solutions or comparable biologically active solutions. But it can also other liquids not normally found in cells and gases are used which are similar electric conductivity if only in a liquid pre-treatment step be absorbed into the cells of the biological material.

at the method according to the invention are the enriched with penetration medium cells of the biological Materiales in a carrier medium brought into an alternating electric field, as is typical for the Electroporation is used.

suitable carrier media have a weak electrical conductivity. Below is a conductivity be understood, which is not much better, preferably worse is as the conductivity the cells, so that the current flowing during electroporating current pulses not pass the cells.

typical conductivity values for good carrier media are therefore in the range of a few mS / cm.

A further basic property of the carrier media its dielectric strength is below that used for electroporating electric fields (typically 1 kV / cm up to 100 kV / cm).

One Electroporation field includes a plurality of successive ones narrow and high field pulses, the field strength is chosen so high that already existing small pores and / or ion channels in the cell walls are increased or new pores in the cell walls be created.

As a carrier liquid is particularly suitable weakly conductive water. Under weakly conductive should be understood in this context, a water that has typical drinking water quality or elevated water quality, ie a water with a conductivity of 0.1 mS / cm to about 10 mS / cm.

Instead of of water can but also other liquids used, provided they have the appropriate electrical properties ensure that at the individual cells of the aufzuschließenden Material in opposite Edge areas Potential differences of the order of 0.5 V to 2 V or more can be achieved.

The catch up of biological material can not only be done with the objective of subsequently at the unlocking a useful one To extract active substance but also in terms of objective, to eliminate unwanted pollutants from the digested material, e.g. in a food, an undesirable bitter substance or the like.

Although the electroporation according to the invention is known per se in connection with aqueous biological materials, as the article by Bluhm, Frey et al. in the news of the research center Karlsruhe, year 35, number 3, 2003, pages 105 to 110 shows. The DE 101 44 486 C1 also discloses the digestion and pasteurization of organic material by electroporation using the example of sugar beets.

These However, known methods are not, as stated above, not for such biological materials that are low in liquid are.

Also There are no measures there met, which counteract the occurrence of breakdowns.

By the present invention, however, it becomes possible, even with delicate materials to obtain a gentle and very effective disruption of the cells.

This succeeds in (compared with thermal methods) low energy input and little warming of the biological material and thus gentle. The yield at Extracting active substances and pollutants in one to the catch up subsequent Extraction step is improved. The treatment time is shortened. Also the digestion takes place in total volume substantially synchronous and thus homogeneous.

below The invention will be described with reference to embodiments with reference closer to the drawing explained. In this show:

1 : a schematic representation of a method according to the invention for digesting dried or low-water plant material;

2 a schematic representation of a plant for introducing liquid into dried biological material and for the electroporation of re-enriched with liquid biological material;

3 : a similar representation as 1 in which, however, a modified method is given;

4 : a similar representation as 2 however, the electroporation reactor is vertically oriented and uses a modified high voltage switching device;

5 : a similar view as 4 in which, however, a further modified high-voltage switching device is shown;

6 FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a main routine according to which a computer adjusts the conductivity of the carrier medium-biological material mixture moved by the electroporation reactor; FIG. and

7 : a subroutine to the in 6 shown main routine.

A crusher station 10 is according to 1 a stream 12 supplied to dry plant material to be connected. These may be dried linden flowers, dried peppermint or other dried flowers or leaves of medicinal plants. However, these may also be other dried plant parts, for example dried roots of plants (eg home-hauling roots). The vegetable material may also be one which contains very little liquid of its own, eg bark, wood, fruit seeds, seeds or the like.

The shredding station 10 may comprise means for cutting, chopping, grinding, squeezing or pressing the vegetable material. By an arrow 14 is a stream of comminuted plant material indicated. This becomes a pretreatment reactor 16 supplied, which contains a weakly conductive liquid, in particular water.

The ground vegetable material remains in contact with the water for a sufficiently long time in the pretreatment reactor 16 ; until water has penetrated into the interior of the cells. This penetration of water can be assisted by that the contents of the pre-treatment tank 16 to a temperature which may be between 5 ° C and 95 ° C with a pressure-free pre-treatment tank and use of water as a penetration liquid.

alternative You can introduce water into the cells of the plant Material with overheated Make steam, with a temperature of up to about 150 ° C for instrumental reasons and establish the protection of the biological material are preferred.

again with regard to the protection of the plant material and in particular of protein contained in this is a temperature of the Water vapor of about 50 ° C preferred up to about 80 ° C, advantageously also reducing the pressure of the water vapor, that this Water boils at the stated temperature. This means at one Temperature of 80 ° C a pressure of about 0.47 bar, at 70 ° C a pressure of 0.32 bar and at 50 ° C a pressure of 0.12 bar.

It should be noted that the working temperature and treatment time in the pretreatment reactor 16 is chosen in view of promoting the penetration of water into the interior of the cells, but not with a view to wash out of the cells active ingredients.

After a sufficient residence time in the pretreatment reactor 16 will be one with 18 symbolically represented mash stream from crushed re-enriched with water biological material and water in an electroporation reactor 20 transferred. There, the mash is subjected to a succession of very short high field pulses, the size of which is determined so as to obtain a voltage drop of about 0.5 to 2 V across a cell.

at Cell dimensions ranging from a few microns to several 100 microns and at common conductivities of vegetable mash of a few tens of μS / cm to several tens of mS / cm this, generating electric field strengths inside the electroporation reactor in the range between 1 kV / cm and 100 kV / cm.

in the single one becomes the field strength depending on the unlocked Select material. It can be to a smaller extent by enlarging the Length of individual field pulses a missing amplitude portion of the field pulses compensate, making the use of a simpler and cheaper Pulse generator allows.

At the exit of the electroporation reactor 20 thus one obtains a material flow 22 which now comprises the remaining penetration water, cell wall shells and cell contents serving as the carrier medium.

The digested material flow 22 if necessary after removal of the carrier water in an extraction station / aftertreatment station 24 in which, using a suitable solvent and / or physically (mechanically and / or under pressure and / or heating), the desired active ingredient is dissolved out of the cell contents and / or the cell walls (by the destruction of the cell walls are also on and / or in these stored substances more accessible for extraction).

An extract stream 26 can from the extraction station 24 be deducted while a residual material flow 28 is discarded, the carrier water and in this remaining un-extracted portions of the material stream 22 includes.

The The method described above may be batchwise or continuous carried out be, with the different reactors with continuously operating Rotary locks or corresponding intermittently actuated valves be provided, which need not be explained in detail here.

Also animal material from which active substances are to be obtained, is often first dried to store it longer before processing or over longer distances inexpensive to be able to transport. It can then be processed exactly as described above described on herbal materials.

at the process examples described above were those in which organic active ingredients from the starting materials should be won. It is understood that one this procedure too equally to use inorganic substances from biological material to win ("leaching").

In the above-described methods, there was also an interest in the active substances obtained from the starting material. However, the process according to the invention can also be used as a purification process in which an unwanted soluble pollutant is removed from a starting material. In this case, then the extract stream 26 discarded while the residual material stream 28 a further utilization is supplied.

Variations of the method described above are in 1 represented by dashed lines.

First variations of the method refer to the fact that at least a portion of the material flow mes 22 is returned to a previous process stage.

For some materials, it may be advantageous not to completely digest the material in a single pass through the electroporation reactor 20 to accomplish, since this would then take too much time (and energy). The material flow is therefore according to a variant on the way 30 via an intermediate treatment station 32 to the entrance of the electroporation reactor 20 recycled.

The intermediate treatment 32 may simply include storage of the electroporation-treated material stream in a container for a predetermined period of time, by further swelling from already created perforations creating new points of attack for another electroporation step.

The Intermediate treatment can also be used in a chemical treatment which starting from that in the first electroporation step generated errors in the cell walls new targets for one form the following electroporation.

Also can one by the fact that one into the cells inside cell wall defects generated at the first electroporation are more electrically conductive conductive liquid diffuse, at Another electroporation, in which still poorly conductive carrier fluid is used, the flow through the reactor stronger through the interior of the individual Align cells to improve their destruction.

In another variant, a part of the material flow 22 about a way 34 to the inlet of the pretreatment reactor 16 recycled. This gives a more complete refilling of the individual cells with liquid since this is aided by errors generated in the wall during the first electroporation.

Finally, you can part of the material flow 22 about a way 36 also to the inlet of the crushing station 10 and thus make use of the mechanical comminution that the material was already weakened mechanically at the first electroporation. It is thus possible to mince the material very finely with little energy input, which was less possible with the dry material with intact cell walls.

Other variants of in 1 The method shown is that parts of the residual material flow 28 to previous stages of the process. These returns are through paths 38 . 40 . 42 indicated that the electroporation reactor 20 , to the enrichment reactor 16 or to the crushing station 10 attributed. The advantages thus obtained are generally in a more intensive digestion, similar to the way 30 . 34 . 36 described.

To control the flow rates in the paths 30 . 34 . 36 . 38 . 40 . 42 are provided in these respective flow controllers D30, D34, D36, D38, D40, D42. These can be formed in the concrete case by a proportional valve, which is moved by a servo motor, which in turn is activated by a controller.

In a further modification of the in 1 also shown in the ways 34 to 42 Intermediate treatments may be provided to further weaken the cell walls to improve separation between desired and undesired components of the biological material.

2 schematically shows details of the pretreatment reactor 16 and the electroporation reactor 20 and an associated controller.

The pretreatment reactor 16 includes a container 44 with a conical outlet section, which is pressure-tight and that via a first line 46 Water and a second line 48 the shredded biological material is supplied to which the crushing station 10 provides.

Controllable flow controllers D46 and D48 are again used to adjust the material flows in the line 46 and 48 ,

Inside the container 44 is a volume 50 from water and shredded biological material shown schematically.

An electric motor 52 is provided to a stirrer 54 to turn.

In the container 44 is a temperature control rod 56 provided to bring the container contents to a temperature deviating from the ambient temperature, which may typically be between about 5 ° C and about 95 ° C, preferably between about 15 ° C and about 50 ° C.

The in the container 44 Ruling temperature is controlled by a temperature sensor 58 measured.

The interior of the container 44 is done using a vacuum pump 60 evacuated to extract residual air from the mixture of water and ground biological material. A pressure sensor 61 monitors the vacuum in the tank 44 ,

The outlet of the vacuum pump 60 is about a cold trap 62 with an exhaust pipe 64 connected. That in the cold trap 62 accumulating condensate can via a valve 66 subtracted from.

at The condensate may vary depending on the biological material used e.g. to act on volatile volatile oils, which fed to a re-use can be.

The outlet of the container 44 is with a screw pump 68 connected by an electric motor 70 is driven, which is speed controllable.

The outlet of the worm pump 68 is with the inlet of the electroporation reactor 20 through a pipe 72 connected. There, the auger pump stops 68 an atmospheric pressure or an overpressure, thereby ensuring that in the electroporation reactor 20 under the prevailing electric fields, the number of voltage flashovers caused by gas inclusions is kept small.

Around the inside of the electroporation reactor 20 through the screw pump 68 set pressure to atmospheric pressure (or other consequential pressure) is in an electrostatic discharge material discharging the discharge line 73 a rotary valve 75 intended. Alternatively, a throttle, a flow rate controller or a valve can be used to reduce the pressure, for a further pressure increase another pump.

The electroporation reactor 20 has a case made of impact-resistant insulating and impact-resistant material 74 , which is a flat reaction channel 78 having rectangular cross section. In practice, the height of the reaction channel 78 about 5 mm to 200 mm, preferably about 40 mm.

As material for the housing 74 in particular: plastics and fiber-reinforced plastics, in particular transparent or translucent plastics such as polycarbonate; Glass, in particular laminated glass; High-strength industrial ceramics, if necessary also fiber-reinforced.

In the drawing in the upper and lower boundary surface of the reaction channel 78 are electrodes 80 . 82 used flush, which are designed as metal plates. Preferably, the plate material (optionally as a coating) comprises stainless steel, titanium or titanium-iridium, precious metal, in particular gold, silver platinum.

The electrodes 80 . 82 are generously rounded at the edges to avoid field peaks.

Of these, the bottom electrode 82 via a measuring resistor 84 connected to ground while the top electrode 80 via a controllable switch 86 connected to a capacitor bank, which is the only capacitor 88 is shown.

A voltage divider 89 allows the measurement at the electrodes 80 . 82 lying voltage and in connection with the by the measuring resistor 84 formed current sensor, the measurement of electrical power.

Charging the capacitor 88 via a charging resistor 90 through a high voltage charging unit 92 , For smaller electroporation reactors, such as may be used in conjunction with the digestion of medicinal plants, it only needs to supply currents of a few mA to a few A.

To control the switch 86 is a control circuit 94 provided at two input terminals a signal τ, which specifies the length of a switching pulse, and a signal T, which specifies the time interval of switching pulses.

In addition, the control circuit 94 have a control terminal V, at which can be predetermined, at which voltage the switch 86 should be pressed.

The control signals τ, T and V are from a process computer 96 provided. As indicated by a conductor bundle D, worried the process computer 96 also the control of the various flow rate controllers D, which are provided in lines of the system, as described above.

The process computer 96 can via a keypad 98 Characteristic values for the respective biological material to be opened up are entered. Using these characteristics and their associated sets of working parameters stored in memory 100 of the process computer 96 are stored, calculated by the process computer 96 each of the most favorable for the considered biological material values for the voltage to which the capacitor 88 is to be charged, for the width τ of the switching pulses and for the distance T of the switching pulses and for other working parameters of the electropoaration including the pre-treatment reactor 16 and other equipment shown in FIG.

A monitor 102 serves to display operating parameters of the system and to control inputs.

typical Values for τ are about 10 ns to about 100 μs, preferably about 100 ns to about 50 μs.

typical Values for 1 / T are about 0.1 Hz to about 500 Hz, preferably about 0.2 Hz to about 50 Hz, more preferably about 0.5 Hz to about 40 Hz.

Every time a switch is triggered by a switching pulse 86 is closed, the capacitor discharges 88 about the mash volume, which is just between the two electrodes 80 and 82 located. In the process, currents in the range of a few thousand A occur in the short term.

By these streams is under consideration the electric conductivity the mash between the upper and lower sections of the cell wall a cell voltage differences in the range of about 2 V generated. These differences are so big that in the cell walls existing small pores and ion channels are irreversibly widened and destroying the cell wall becomes.

If the conductivity of the mash is too small, is the current when closing the switch 86 flows through the mash, too small. Conversely, the electrical conductivity of the mash is too large, so due to the good conductivity of the mash to the individual cells so great a voltage drop is built up that destruction of the cell walls takes place.

Out that is why the conductivity the mash lie in a certain window, its lower limit is about 0.1 mS / cm and its upper limit is about 100 mS / cm.

In order to constantly monitor the conductivity of the mash, the measuring resistor is 84 provided with an input of the process computer 96 connected is. Alternatively or additionally, also the voltage divider 89 be used.

The process computer 96 When a change in conductivity is detected, it immediately changes the voltage to which the capacitor is connected 88 is charged such that again receives the same voltage drop across a cell, so that the breaking of the cell walls continues to be safe. However, this measure leads to a greater load on the high-voltage charging unit 92 ,

At the same time the process computer 96 therefore affecting the production of the mash (via the control of the temperature, the stirring and the amounts of supplied biological material and water) that the electrical conductivity of the mash returns to the normal range. To the extent that this is achieved, then the charging voltage of the capacitor 88 be returned to the initial value back.

The the flow rate of the carrier water corresponding conveying speed the cells through the electroporation reactor is sized so that the cells a sufficient number of field pulses are subjected to the cell walls like that strong to destroy that out the content of the cell or the cell walls in a subsequent Treatment step with a desired Yield and a desired Extraction time drugs can be removed.

The total number of field impulses to which the cell material in the electroporation reactor 20 the width and frequency of the field pulses and their height, the temperature during electroporating and the operating parameters when preparing the mash (degree of comminution of the dry biological material, mixing ratio with water, pre-treatment additives used, pretreatment temperature, duration of pre-treatment, interim storage times) are each determined experimentally for a particular material to be split for a particular purpose and stored in memory 100 for retrieval via the keypad 98 kept ready. It is possible to start from parameters that were determined earlier for cells that are similar in cell size and composition.

In a modification of the embodiment described above can be the switch 86 replace with a gas discharge line. In this case, one makes use of the property of a gas discharge path, that this breaks when a predetermined voltage is applied. This breakdown voltage can be controlled by the pressure of the gas trapped in the gas discharge path. A pressure control for the gas discharge path thus effectively replaces the control circuit 94 ,

This in 3 illustrated method differs from that in 1 in that, to restore a conductivity inside the cells, a penetration liquid different from the carrier liquid used to carry the cells through the electroporation reactor is used.

Components of in 3 shown attachment, already referring to 1 have been discussed are again provided with the same reference numerals and need not be described again in detail. Also are in 3 the various variants of a product return in the process for the sake of clarity omitted. It is understood that return paths, which the ways 30 . 34 . 36 . 38 . 40 and 42 from 1 correspond, also with the plant after 3 can be provided.

The plant after 3 differs from the one after 1 in that a separate carrier liquid stream is used to pass the particles of the biomaterial to be digested through the electroporation reactor 20 through carry.

Especially can as a penetration liquid Water are used, the conductivity increasing substances, in particular Salts added are while as a carrier liquid normal tap water with lower conductivity or deionized or distilled water is used.

The carrier liquid may also be one which is in contact with the pretreatment reactor 16 used penetration liquid does not mix. Preferably, in the pretreatment reactor 16 Water or an aqueous solution used. Such a penetration liquid can generally penetrate the cell walls well, it being possible if necessary to admix a surface-active substance in order to attack wax layers or fatty layers carried by the cell surfaces. As the water-immiscible carrier liquid is then used in the specified conductivity range of 0.1 mS / cm to 10 mS / cm conducting oil.

Gases are also suitable as a carrier medium, provided that they are weakly conductive and impact-resistant. In order to avoid gravity segregation of carrier medium and biological material, while the Elektroporationsreaktor 20 flows through vertically. The same applies to upstream and downstream system components.

To the outlet of the pre-treatment reactor 16 is a separation step 104 connected, which separates the not absorbed by the biological material penetration liquid. The separation stage 104 may be eg a filter or a centrifuge. The separated there penetration liquid can via a line 106 that is a regeneration unit 107 may contain in the pretreatment reactor 16 to be led back.

A controllable flow controller D106, which may be similar in construction to the flow controllers described with reference to the previous figures, indicates the size of the flow of material in the conduit 106 in front.

A mash stream 18a corresponding, but only a small amount of penetration liquid containing stream 18b from re-enriched with liquid biological material is the one input of a mixing stage 108 supplied, whose other input receives the carrier medium. At the output of the mixer 108 you get a stream of material 110 of carrier medium and biomaterial whose cells are again filled with water.

The material flow 110 then goes through the electroporation reactor 20 , wherein the cell walls of the material are again destroyed by the sharp and high field pulses.

The at the exit of the electroporation reactor 20 obtained material stream 22 is then in a further separation step 112 led, in which the carrier medium on the one hand and the destroyed cells of the biological material on the other hand are separated. For this purpose, known physical methods can again be used, for example filtration or centrifuging.

The carrier medium is via a line 114 and a regeneration stage 116 back to the mixing stage 108 returned during the flow of cell walls and cell contents of the extraction station 24 be supplied.

A controllable throughput controller D114 dictates how much mixing over the line 114 is returned.

On this way it is possible different conductivities in the carrier medium and inside the disturbing Adjust cells such that the current flowing between the electrodes of the electroporation station preferably flows through the cells, where such are available stand.

According to the embodiment 4 which follows the one 2 is very similar, is the electroporation reactor 20 with vertical orientation of the treatment channel 78 established.

According to the embodiment 4 becomes the switch 86 through a control circuit 94 switched, which depends on the voltage at the capacitor 88 is working. The control circuit 94 is shown schematically as a comparator with adjustable reference voltage V.

Achieved in the embodiment according to 4 the voltage at the capacitor 88 a predetermined value, then closes the control circuit 94 the switch 86 , And the charge stored on the capacitor flows in pulses over the electrodes 80 . 82 and the mixture between them and the measuring resistor 84 against earth. The desk 86 is then reopened and the condenser 88 is from the loading unit 92 over the charging resistance 90 recharged. The entire arrangement thus operates as a high voltage pulse generator.

According to the embodiment 5 is the switch 86 through a discharge path 86 ' replaced. This beats when the voltage across its electrodes exceeds a given value. The breakdown voltage depends on the type of gas that is in the breakdown range 86 ' is located and from the pressure.

For this purpose, a reservoir 116 provided, which is a supply of the in the breakdown line 86 ' contains used working gas. The outlet of the reservoir 116 is via a controllable pressure regulator 118 with the breakdown range 86 ' connected, wherein the adjustable closing force by an electromagnet 120 illustrated by the process computer 96 is energized.

In a further modification are in the system of Figure 5 in the housing 74 a light detector 122 , and a pressure sensor (or microphone) 124 provided, the output signals are OR-connected together and to an input of the process computer 96 are given.

Occurs in the reaction channel 78 a breakdown, then the corresponding light flash or the corresponding pressure or sound wave from the detectors 122 . 124 registered, and the process computer 96 can then remedy, as will be described in more detail later.

Finally, in the system according to 5 at the outlet of the worm pump 68 a conductivity sensor 126 provided with the process computer 96 connected is.

Another conductivity sensor 128 you can inside the container 44 provide.

With reference to the 6 and 7 should now work the process computer 96 be sketched, as far as it serves, in the electroporation reactor 20 to maintain consistently good working conditions.

For this purpose, the process computer monitors 96 on the one hand the conductivity of the mixture of carrier medium and biological material from the container 44 into the interior of the reaction channel 78 (There on the measurement of the current pulses through the measuring resistor 84 to run).

In addition, the process computer monitors 96 whether in the interior of the reaction channel 78 Voltage flashovers occur.

He can do this on the basis of the light pulses coming from the light sensor 122 fall, based on pressure pulses or sound pulses, which the pressure sensor or the microphone 124 reach, and also on the basis of the width of the current pulses, which by the measuring resistor 84 flow, and / or the voltage pulses which the voltage divider 89 provides.

Basically, a main routine of the process computer works 96 in two stages of different priority: breakdown monitoring (higher level) and conductivity regulation (downstream).

The process computer 96 works clocked by pulses, which are also used to control the control circuit 94 serve or from the on the measuring resistor 84 decreasing voltage and / or the output voltage of the voltage divider 89 are derived.

First, in a block 130 checked whether the respectively applied voltage has led to a breakdown.

If this is not the case, a field pulse counter (block 132 ) by one. Subsequently, the conductivity control is triggered (block 134 ), in the 7 is shown in more detail.

If a breakdown is detected, it is first in a block 136 the voltage lowered to which the capacitor 88 is charged, or at which the switch 86 is closed. This can be done by changing the reference signal for the control circuit 94 or the energization of the electromagnet 120 respectively. The voltage is reduced at each breakdown occurring by a predetermined increment, which experience has shown that sufficient for a next field pulse to reduce the occurrence of punch-through.

In a next step is in a block 138 a preference value for the further procedure Pv adopted from a superordinate program part. This serves to select one of a plurality of measures which can also serve to prevent the occurrence of a breakdown in the reactor channel 78 to avoid.

This may include increasing the rate of delivery v of the mixture in the short term to discharge a too well conducting inhomogeneous portion of the mixture from the electroporation reactor before the next high voltage pulse is applied Is apparent to the parent program that it was a presumably singular breakdown, Thus, the parent program just opposite can consider the reduction of the conveying speed for pertinent, so that in the reactor channel 78 located material an additional high voltage pulse is exposed and thus upon exiting the electroporation reactor has experienced the standard number of pulses.

After in the block 140 a change in the conveying speed (or maintenance of the conveying speed) takes place in a further block 142 from a higher-order program, another preference value PT is taken, which indicates whether the distance T, in which the next high-voltage pulse to the flow reactor 20 is created faster or slower. This modification of the pulse spacing is done in the block 144 ,

Then there is a return from there to the starting point S of the main routine.

If a breakdown is found, then at the same time in the block 146 a punch counter increased by one. This is reset at regular intervals by another program part, as indicated by a reset terminal R.

In a block 148 it is determined whether the level of the breakdown counter is greater than a predetermined number (1, 2, 3, ...). If this is the case, it will be in a block 150 taken an emergency measure.

This will then be selected from the following group: alarm and / or error stop of the entire system; Preventing further high voltage pulses for a given time; rapidly lowering the conductivity in the reactor channel 78 mixture by rapidly feeding a larger amount of pure water; rapid ejection of the contents of the reactor channel 78 ,

7 shows a subroutine, which is the process computer 96 used to control the conductivity of the reactor channel 78 mixture within a predetermined conductivity range, which is given by an upper limit and a lower limit.

In a block 152 the current conductivity measurement takes place in the reactor channel 78 ,

In another block 154 it checks if the current conductivity is too high. If this is the case, it will be in a block 156 assumed a preference value P _a for a remedial action to be performed. According to this preference value is then in the block 158 an assigned action is performed. This may consist of reducing the proportion of biological material in the mixture, reducing the intensity of a pretreatment, reducing the addition of a conductive additive or adding more carrier water.

Will be in the block 154 found that the conductivity is not too large, is in a block 160 Checked if the conductivity is too small.

If this is the case, it will be in a block 162 from a higher-level program part again adopted a preference value P _b , which indicates which of a plurality of proposed remedial measures should be taken.

These measure can be selected from the following group: Increase the Proportion of biological material in the mixture, more intensive pretreatment of the biological material, addition of a conductive additive, lowering the carrier water amount.

In a block 164 the corresponding measure is then carried out.

Similar control loops can be constantly based on the output value of the conductivity meter 126 and the conductivity meter 128 respectively.

If you have a system with partial recirculation of material quantities, so can the setting of the correct conductivity in the reactor channel 78 also be done by changing the size of the recycled material flows suitable.

in the With regard to avoiding breakdowns in the electroporation reactor it is advantageous to avoid all working conditions there could lead to the formation of gas or vapor bubbles. This also means that he in the electroporation reactor will set a higher pressure as in upstream treatment reactors, and that in the electroporation reactor also set a temperature that is higher than that in upstream Treatment reactors.

Also with regard to the prevention of breakdowns one is in a pretreatment of the ensure that it does not receive any peaks or existing tips are rounded off.

The extraction of the active substances or pollutants can then be carried out in the extraction stage 24 done again in the manner described above.

The Extraction stage is not based on the use of extracting solvent limited. It can also physical extraction methods may be used, e.g. work under pressure and / or temperature.

For some products, it may also be of interest in a further modification of the invention, a product freed of undesired substances behind the extraction stage 24 to dry again. As again low-liquid product, it is also suitable for long-term storage without microorganisms multiply in the product. The treated product, however, still has the property of having many channels and free surfaces resulting from electroporation, which allow a rapid exchange of drugs with a liquid or gas at a later time.

So could one e.g. treat coffee beans using the procedure outlined above, which can be used more sparingly because a more intense transmission the flavors and the caffeine on the coffee water is possible.

To typical low-liquid biological materials obtained by the method described above digestible are, belong Precursors for the perfume industry (Rose petals, Lavender leaves etc.), Precursors for Drugstore articles (pine needles, pine pines needles, etc.), Precursors for the pharmaceutical industry (e.g., leaves of medicinal plants (eucalyptus, peppermint, lemon balm, stinging nettle, Lime blossom) Bark containing active ingredients, etc., and also roots, leaves and fruit of medicinal plants (toadstool root, belladonna, foxglove, etc.) and precursors for the food industry (spices, Dried fruits, Lentils, peas, etc.)

typical examples for animal biological materials are e.g. Meat (for extraction of meat extracts) and tissue for hormone production (adrenal cortices) etc..

The The following examples give an overview together with certain plant materials suitable working parameters of the electroporation reactor.

Example 1: Preparation of hominy root juice

Hauhechelwurzeln were mechanically on bits crushed by about 5 mm in diameter.

So obtained root chips were in the ratio 1: 3 with water to a mash solution combined.

The mash solution was over 10 minutes at 19 ° C touched.

you receives such a pretreated mash solution with an electrical conductivity of 5.9 mS / cm.

These mash solution was placed in an electroporation reactor whose rectangular opposite each other Electrodes have a distance of 20 mm and edge lengths of 4 cm and 13 cm respectively.

The mash solution was at a field strength of 12.5 kV / cm treated with 15 field pulses. Their length was 2 μs.

immediate after electroporation, the mash conductivity was 6.9 measured mS / cm.

To Resting the mash after electroporation for 3 hours became the water decanted and squeezed the root juice and filtered.

Whose conductivity was 10.45 mS / cm.

Of the Residue after pressing was 6.15%.

Example 2: Preparation of lime blossom juice

Lime blossom with a diameter of 5 to 10 mm were in a ratio of 1: 2 with water to a mash solution combined.

The mash solution was over 10 minutes at 19 ° C touched.

you receives such a pretreated mash solution with an electrical conductivity of 3.3 mS / cm.

These mash solution was placed in an electroporation reactor whose rectangular opposite each other Electrodes have a distance of 20 mm and edge lengths of 4 cm and 13 cm respectively.

The mash solution was at a field strength of 11.5 kV / cm treated with 15 field pulses. The length of the Field pulses was 2 μs.

immediate after electroporation, the mash conductivity was 4.68 measured mS / cm.

To Resting the mash after electroporation for 3 hours became the water decanted and squeezed the juice.

Whose conductivity was 7.0 mS / cm.

Of the Residue after squeezing the juice was 3.84%.

Claims (46)

Method for breaking up liquid poor, in particular dried, biological material, characterized in that a) in the biological material, a penetration medium is introduced, which adjusts an electrical conductivity there, b) the penetration medium enriched with biological material is distributed in a support medium, the nature of the support medium and the ratio between the carrier medium and the biological material is selected such that the resulting mixture is electrically weakly conductive, and c) the mixture of carrier medium and penetration medium-enriched biological material is treated by electroporation. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that that this Introducing the penetration medium in the biological material so done that one that the gives biological material in a volume of penetration medium and there for a predetermined period of time leaves. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that that this Tempering medium is tempered. Method according to claim 3, characterized that this Penetration medium, if it is a liquid, to a temperature between about 5 ° C and about 95 ° C, preferably between about 10 ° C and about 70 ° C, again preferably between about 15 ° C and 50 ° C, in particular about 20C set is, and if it is a gas or steam, to a temperature between about 50 ° C and about 200 ° C, preferably about 130 ° C and about 150 ° C is set. Method according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized that the Mixture of biological material and penetration medium at least while a part of the predetermined period of time is moved. Method according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized that this Penetration medium a liquid is and that the Mixture of penetration liquid and degas biological material. Method according to Claim 6, characterized that out from the mixture of penetration liquid and biological material aspirated gas condensable constituents are deposited. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized that at least a part of the introduction of penetration medium into the biological Material using liquid vapor he follows. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that that the liquid vapor essentially saturated is. Method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized that the Steam is steam and a temperature of about 50 ° C to about 150 ° C, preferably about 50 ° C up to about 120 ° C, again preferably about 50 ° C up to about 80 ° C, in particular about 50 ° C up to about 70 ° C, at temperatures below 100 ° C the pressure in the treatment reactor is preferably set so that the Boiling point at the specified temperature is. Method according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized that first one Introduction of penetration medium by treatment in the liquid vapor takes place and then an introduction of penetration medium by contact with penetration liquid he follows. Method according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized that this Introducing penetration medium using pressure. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that that the used pressure between about 1.5 bar and about 10 bar, preferably is between about 2 bar and 7 bar. Method according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized that this biological material prior to introduction of the penetration medium mechanically comminuted and / or pickled in a pretreatment step and / or irradiated with light or ionizing radiation. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that that the Pre-treatment step immediately before the introduction of the penetration medium in the biological material takes place. Method according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that that this biological material after a first electroporation treatment at least partially at least one further electroporation treatment is subjected. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that that the returned part of the biological material subjected to an intermediate treatment becomes. Process according to claim 17, characterized in that the intermediate treatment comprises one or more of the following treatments: mechanical comminution, storage, mixing with a liquid, in particular a pickling, tempering, pressure treatment, irradiation with light or ionizing radiation. Method according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized that at least a part of the biological material after electroporation again treated with penetration medium and then again subjected to electroporation treatment. Method according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized that at least a part of the biological material after electroporation again is mechanically comminuted and then again with penetration medium treated and treated again by electroporation. Method according to one of claims 1 to 20, characterized that out the biological material after the electroporation treatment in a further step, a component is extracted. Method according to Claim 21, characterized that at least a portion of the electroporated depleted of extracted component Residual material is again subjected to pre-crushing and / or is subjected to a treatment with penetration medium and a subjected to further electroporation treatment. Method according to one of claims 1 to 22, characterized that the field strength in electroporation, between about 1 and about 100 kV / cm, preferably between about 1 and about 50 kV / cm, again preferably between about 3 and about 25 kV / cm, and more preferably between about 3 and about 15 kV / cm. Method according to one of claims 1 to 23, characterized that the field strength considering the size of the cells of the biological material is selected so that the potential drop over a Cell of biological material between sth 0.5 V and about 5 V, preferably between about 1V and about 2V. Method according to one of claims 1 to 24, characterized that the electric conductivity the mixture of carrier medium subjected to electroporation and biological media enriched with penetration medium between about 0.1 mS / cm and about 100 mS / cm, preferably between about 0.5 mS / cm and about 30 mS / cm. Method according to one of claims 1 to 25, characterized that the Length of field pulses used for electroporation about 10 ns to about 100 μs, preferably about 100 ns to about 50 μs. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 26, characterized that the Frequency of field pulses used in electroporation between about 0.1 Hz and about 500 Hz, preferably between about 0.2 Hz and about 50 Hz, again preferably between about 0.5 Hz and about 40 Hz. Method according to one of claims 1 to 27, characterized that this biological material in electroporation of a total of Field pulses is exposed, the 1 to 100, preferably 1 to 50, again preferably 1 to 20. Method according to one of claims 1 to 28, characterized that this Penetration medium is different from the carrier medium, preferably in its electrical conductivity. Method according to claim 29, characterized that one the two media is essentially water or an aqueous solution. Method according to claim 30, characterized in that that this transfer medium is essentially water or an aqueous solution. Method according to one of claims 29 to 31, characterized that one the two media is a gas or vapor. Method according to claim 32, characterized in that that this transfer medium a gas or a vapor. Method according to one of claims 29 to 31, characterized that one the two media a water immiscible organic liquid is, especially an oil. A method according to claim 34, characterized that this transfer medium is an electrically weakly conductive oil. Method according to one of claims 1 to 35, characterized that the Penetration medium is a surface-active Substance is added. Method according to one of claims 1 to 36, characterized in that for obtaining an active substance from a liquid-poor biological material of the active ingredient from the material treated by electroporation by pressure and / or temperature and / or using an organic or aqueous solvent is extracted. Method according to one of claims 1 to 36, characterized that to Generating a pollutant-free biological material the pollutant from the material treated by electroporation by pressure and / or temperature action and / or using an organic or aqueous solvent is extracted. Device for carrying out the method according to one of Claims 1 to 38, characterized by a pretreatment reactor ( 16 ), the inlets ( 46 . 48 ) for a penetration medium and liquid-poor biological material, and by an electroporation reactor ( 20 ), the two have a treatment channel ( 78 ) at least partially limiting electrodes ( 80 . 82 ) connected to a high voltage pulse generator ( 86 . 90 to 94 ) are connected. Device according to Claim 39, characterized in that the high-voltage pulse generator ( 86 . 90 to 94 ) one by a loading unit ( 92 ) rechargeable capacitor ( 88 ) and a controllable switch ( 86 ) over which a 80 ) of the electrodes ( 80 . 82 ) of the electroporation generator ( 20 ) with one terminal of the capacitor ( 88 ) is connectable while the other terminal of the capacitor ( 88 ) and the second ( 82 ) of the electrodes ( 80 . 82 ) are interconnected. Apparatus according to claim 40, characterized in that the second ( 82 ) of the electrodes ( 80 . 82 ) via a measuring resistor ( 84 ) with the second terminal of the capacitor ( 88 ) or with the electrodes ( 80 . 82 ) a measuring voltage divider ( 89 ) and the measuring resistor ( 84 ) falling or the measuring voltage divider ( 89 ) is used, at least one working parameter of the pretreatment reactor ( 16 ) and / or the electroporation reactor ( 20 ) and / or the conveyor ( 68 . 70 ) ( 96 ). Device according to one of Claims 39 to 41, characterized in that the pretreatment reactor ( 16 ) evacuable ( 60 ). Device according to one of Claims 39 to 42, characterized in that the pretreatment reactor ( 16 ) is adjustable (56) to a predetermined temperature. Device according to one of claims 39 to 43, characterized in that a conveyor ( 68 ) Material from the outlet of the pretreatment reactor ( 16 ) to the entrance of the electroporation reactor ( 20 ) promotes. Apparatus according to claim 44, characterized in that the conveying device is a screw pump ( 68 ), preferably an eccentric screw pump, which is preferably controllable in rotational speed. Device according to one of claims 39 to 45, characterized in that it comprises a data memory ( 100 ), in which sets of operating parameters are stored for different biological materials to be treated, which are controlled by a control panel ( 98 ) are selectable.