MEMBRANE REACTOR WITH SOLUBLE FORMS OF PENICILLIN ACYLASE

The present paper summarized studies on designing an enzyme membrane r eactor for the continuous hydrolysis of penicillin G. For the reactor containing native penicillin acylase, a thermally treated polysulfone membrane of 10,000 Da nominal cut-off was selected, whereas in the cas e of the reactor containing stabilized enzyme, an untreated polysulfon e membrane with the same cut-off parameter is preferable. The hydrolys is processes were carried out in the appropriate membrane reactors for three days continuously. Both enzyme preparations were stable during that period. The expected conversion of penicillin G was estimated on the basis of a kinetic equation. Good agreement between the calculated and the measured data was obtained; however, comparison of the enzyme stability at 37 degrees C shows that penicillin acylase mixed with po ly(ethyleneimine) is several times more stable than the native enzyme. The membrane reactor with penicillin acylase stabilized by poly(ethyl eneimine) seems to be very promising as far as industry applications a re concerned.