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Use of a batch‐stirred reactor to rationally tailor biocatalytic polytransesterification
Author(s) -
Kline Billie J.,
Lele Smita S.,
Lenart Philip J.,
Beckman Eric J.,
Russell Alan J.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0290(20000220)67:4<424::aid-bit6>3.0.co;2-4
Subject(s) - dispersity , batch reactor , polyester , kinetics , chemistry , polymerization , continuous stirred tank reactor , reactor design , solvent , biocatalysis , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , materials science , polymer , reaction mechanism , catalysis , physics , quantum mechanics , nuclear engineering , engineering
Despite favorable thermodynamics, high‐molecular weight and low‐dispersity polyesters are difficult to synthesize biocatalytically in organic solvents. We have reported previously that the elimination of solvent can improve the kinetics and apparent equilibrium significantly (Chaudhary et al., 1997a). We now present the design and use of a batch‐stirred enzyme reactor to control the biocatalytic polymerization. Using the reactor, polyester having a molecular weight of 23,400 Da and a polydispersity of 1.69 was synthesized in only 1 h at 60°C. Additional factors like enzyme‐deactivation kinetics, enzyme specificity, and initial exothermicity were investigated to develop a better understanding of this complex reaction system. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 67: 424–434, 2000.