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A novel packed‐bed bioreactor operating under isothermal and non‐isothermal conditions
Author(s) -
De Maio Anna,
ElMasry Mansour,
Di Martino Silvana,
Rossi Sergio,
Bencivenga Umberto,
Grano Valentina,
Diano Nadia,
Canciglia Paolo,
Gustavo Mita Damiano
Publication year - 2004
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/bit.20057
Subject(s) - isothermal process , bioreactor , chemistry , glutaraldehyde , chromatography , substrate (aquarium) , chemical engineering , packed bed , immobilized enzyme , materials science , thermodynamics , enzyme , organic chemistry , physics , oceanography , engineering , geology
A novel packed‐bed bioreactor, operating under isothermal and non‐isothermal conditions, has been constructed. The core of the apparatus consisted in a polypropylene ring filled with β‐galactosidase immobilized on beads of polyacrylic acid, grafted with dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate. Phenylendiamine and glutaraldehyde were used as spacer and coupling agent, respectively. Two lateral nylon membranes held the enzyme beads into the ring and allowed the occurrence of the process of thermodialysis when the bioreactor was operating under non‐isothermal conditions. Comparison of the enzyme activity under isothermal and non‐isothermal conditions has shown that in the presence of temperature gradients the rate of lactose hydrolysis was increased, with a reduction of the apparent Km value. Under non‐isothermal conditions the percentage increases of enzyme activity were found to decrease with the increase of the substrate concentration. The results have been explained within the frame of reference of the process of thermodialysis. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.