Bed Bioreactor Research Articles

Heterogeneous enzymic hydrolysis in a biocatalytic packed bed formed by Ca-pectate gel beads

Sucrose hydrolysis influences the stability of Ca-pectate gel beads. The physical and catalytic properties of the gel beads along the bioreactor bed were investigated after 10-days operation at 60°C and an inlet sucrose concentration of 700 g/litre. The existence of axial profiles was due to the change of the reaction rate along the bed. The treatment of pectate gel with glutaraldehyde and polyethyleneimine substantially improved its stability in this process.