Method for removing water in enzyme-catalysed reactions and arrangement for carrying out the method

摘要

A method for removing water in enzyme-catalysed reactions is disclosed. The reaction is performed under reflux conditions in an organic solvent in the presence of an enzyme, an evaporated mixture of solvent, volatile reactants and water formed in the reaction is condensed, and the condensed mixture is passed through a bed of water-adsorbing material where the water condensed with the solvent is adsorbed. Then, the solvent thus freed from water is recycled to the reaction mixture. An arrangement for implementing the method comprises a vapour pipe (2) for conveying an evaporated mixture of solvent, volatile reactants and water from a reaction vessel (1), a condenser (3) for condensing the evaporated mixture, a bed (4) of water-adsorbing material for adsorbing water from the condensed mixture, and a liquid pipe (5) for recycling the condensed solvent to the reaction vessel (1).