Premium
A theoretical model for enzymatic catalysis using asymmetric hollow fiber membranes
Author(s) -
Waterland Larry R.,
Michaels Alan S.,
Robertson Channing R.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.690200106
Subject(s) - michaelis–menten kinetics , substrate (aquarium) , mass transfer , fiber , membrane , chemistry , microporous material , yield (engineering) , diffusion , membrane reactor , chemical engineering , materials science , thermodynamics , chromatography , enzyme , enzyme assay , organic chemistry , composite material , physics , biochemistry , oceanography , engineering , geology
The behavior of an immobilized enzyme reactor utilizing asymmetric hollow fibers is simulated using a theoretical model. In this reactor, an enzyme solution contained within the annular open‐cell porous support structure of the fiber is separated from a substrate flowing through the fiber lumen by an ultrathin dense membrane impermeable to enzyme but permeable to substrate and product. The coupled set of model equations describing the behavior of this reactor represents an extended Graetz problem in the fiber lumen, with diffusion through the ultrathin fiber skin and reaction in the microporous sponge region. Exact analytic expressions for substrate concentration profiles throughout an idealized fiber which incorporate the membrane and hydrodynamic mass transfer resistances are obtained for a first‐order enzyme reaction, and numerical techniques for their evaluation are given. This analysis is extended to yield a numerical finite difference solution for nonlinear Michaelis‐Menten reaction kinetics, which is shown to agree with the analytic solution, as K m / C 0 , the ratio of the Michaelis constant to the initial substrate concentration, becomes large (> 100).