Analysis of an immobilized lactase reactor

Abstract

Abstract The profit indicator defined by Lamba to describe immobilized enzyme efficiency was modified in this paper by taking into consideration the internal and external mass diffusion resistance of the enzyme particle and the natural decay of enzyme activity during operation. The modified profit indicator was then used to evaluate the overall reactor efficiency of both the continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and plug flow reactor (PFR) when these reactors were operated under the following conditions: (1) constant feed rate and (2) constant substrate conversion. Mathematical treatments were carried out for the immobilized lactase reactor systems, and all calculations were made based on the equal quantities of immobilized enzyme utilized and the equal substrate handling rates. In addition, the following assumptions were made: (1) the reactors were to handle 2,000 pound of lactose per day, (2) lactose concentration in the feed stream was 5% w/v, (3) at time zero, prior to any decay of enzyme activity, s...