The Determination of Mass Transfer Limitations in an Immobilized Enzyme Plug Flow Reactor.

摘要

Enzymes are protein molecules which are found in all living organisms and are natural catalysts. One would envision wide industrial use of enzymes to accomplish various reactions. In recent years, a promising approach has been developed to circumvent some problems with enzymes. They have been immobilized whereby they are rendered water insoluble. Covalent bonding to a support,appears most promising and was used in this research study. The advantages of immobilized enzymes over the soluble variety as well as the characteristics of enzymes in general would indicate a bright future in commercial operations,provided some preliminary work is carried out on laboratory equipment to further explore and continue to define the behavior of immobilized enzymes in flow reactors. The objective of the research was the evaluation and selection of alternative models for film and pore mass transfer applied to the use of immobilized enzymes in a plug flow reactor.