REACTION STEADY-STATES AND STATIONARY STATES IN MODELING SEMIBATCH ENZYME HYDROLYSIS

Dimensionless material balance equations describing an uninhibited enz yme hydrolysis process in a semi-batch reactor (i.e. fed-batch reactor ) are formulated; numerical solution of these equations provided conce ntration profiles of the enzyme-substrate complex by using published k inetic parameters. The unrestricted values obtained are compared with estimates based separately on the reaction steady state and stationary state assumptions. Results are discussed in terms of the enzyme/subst rate inventory used and it is found that the reaction steady state is a satisfactory approximation only when this ratio is sufficiently smal l. The stationary state may be a better approximation at other values, particularly when enzyme is added to substrate or when an empty tank is being filled. Reaction yields from semi-batch and batch operations are compared. Processing takes longer in the semi-batch operations and complete conversions are only practical in this mode when enzyme is a dded to substrate.