GAS-PHASE ACETALDEHYDE PRODUCTION IN A CONTINUOUS BIOREACTOR

The gas phase continuous production of acetaldehyde was studied with p articular emphasis on the development of biocatalyst (alcohol oxidase on solid phase support materials) for a fixed bed reactor. Based on th e experimental results in a batch bioreactor, the biocatalysts were pr epared by immobilization of alcohol oxidase on Amberlite IRA-400, pack ed into a column, and the continuous acetaldehyde production in the ga s phase by alcohol oxidase was performed. The effects of the reaction temperature, flow rates of gaseous stream, and ethanol vapor concentra tion on the performance of the continuous bioreactor were investigated . (C) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.