Chapter 10 - Surface Adsorption and Reaction Kinetics of Enzymatic Cellulose Hydrolysis in a Column Reactor

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the surface adsorption and reaction kinetics of enzymatic cellulose hydrolysis in a column reactor. Cellulose, a high polymer of anhydroglucose, is the most abundant organic material on the earth. The chapter reviews the models of kinetics and adsorption in the enzymatic hydrolysis and describes a model hydrolysis study in a column reactor. For any enzymatic reaction to occur, direct physical contact must be made between the enzyme and its substrate. The continuous column is selected over a batch stirred tank because it is more adaptable to the simultaneous conversion of the glucose product into other chemicals by, for example, fermentation. By the repeated percolation and recycle of the reacting liquid through a column packed with cellulose substrate, the glucose concentration can potentially be accumulated to a high level, which is usually more desirable for downstream processing. Two types of experimental procedures are typically used for measuring adsorption from a liquid to a solid surface. One is simple batch adsorption, while the other involves adsorption from a solution flowing through a packed column.