AIChE Journal, Vol.52, No.2, 692-704, 2006
Novel type of two-impinging-jets reactor for solid-liquid enzyme reactions
The isomerization Of D-glucose to D-fructose using the immobilized glucose isomerase, as a typical model system of solid-liquid enzyme reactions has been carried out in a novel type of two-impinging-jets reactor (TIJR), which is characterized by a rotating inner cylinder in a stationary one. Because of the impinging process, turbulence, and complex trajectory of the solid particles within the reactor, the fractional conversion of glucose obtained in the TIJR increased dramatically compared to that obtained by conventional reaction systems. A compartment model was considered to describe the pattern of flow [residence time distribution (RTD) of solid particles] within the TIJR. Considering such a flow pattern, a stochastic model for the RTD of the solid particles was developed using Markov chains models. The latter was correlated with the experimental RTD data, obtained by using a tracer analysis technique.
Keywords:impinging jets;opposed jets;glucose isomerase;enzymatic isomerization;residence time distribution