Performance of a cyclic operated multicolumns recirculated packed bed batch reactor for 6-APA production

Abstract

The methodology for designing a multicolumns recirculated packed bed batch reactor (MRPBR) system is developed. The performance of the system employing immobilized penicillin-G amidase (IPGA) for the production of 6-APA is studied. The total IPGA activity in the cyclic operated MRPBR system is maintained within a constant range by periodically replacing the oldest column in the system. The reaction time for each cycle of batch reaction is, therefore, maintained within a constant range by employing a sufficient number of columns and independent on the cycle number. The variations of 6-APA production rate is held to a desired level. The production yield of IPGA increases and 6-APA production rate decreases with the number of column installed in the MRPBR system. Both the production yield and production rate increase with the IPGA lifetime in the system. The production yield can be enhanced significantly by extending the batch reaction time. For a system designed to allow the batch reaction to be completed within 240 min, the production yield of IPGA can be 80% higher than that in the stirred tank reactor (STR) system. However, the 6-APA production rate decreases to 55% of that in STR system.