Optimal temperature control in a multi-stage immobilized enzyme reactor system

Abstract

Optimal temperature policy for a multi-stage immobilized enzyme reactor system was studied. Enzyme deactivation during continuous reactor operation was considered for optimization. Performance index for maximizing productivity was formulated and the maximum principle was employed in calculating an optimal temperature profile. Higher productivity was predicted from a multi-stage reactor system compared to that from a single-stage reactor system. As the number of stages increased, productivity also increased. The high productivity in the multi-stage reactor system is also obtainable in a single-stage reactor system if multi-compartment temperature control can be provided along the reactor column as in the multi-stage reactor system. The deactivation parameter is the most sensitive to the optimal temperature profile among other parameters and is thus to be estimated accurately.