ANALYSIS OF A BSTR REACTOR FOR TRIGLYCERIDE HYDROLYSIS WITH AN IMMOBILIZED CUTINASE

Fusarium solani pisi recombinant cutinase was immobilised by adsorptio n on NaY zeolite. A BSTR reactor was developed for the utilisation of the immobilised enzyme on the hydrolysis of triglycerides in non-conve ntional media. For a reaction medium with 4% of water and 96% of organ ic phase, high conversions were obtained. The kinetic parameters of th e immobilised enzyme were determined: V-max = 35.8 U/g and K-M = 186 m M. External mass transfer limitations were observed with linear veloci ties lower than 85 cm/s, and the effectiveness factors were determined . For triglyceride concentrations between 20 and 250 mM a first-order kinetics was observed, due to diffusional control the substrate concen tration at the support surface (S-S) was always lower than K-M. For li near velocities between 29 and 107 cm/s, a first-order kinetics was al so observed when lower agitation rates were used-diffusional control-a nd loss of enzymatic activity occurred for linear velocities higher th an 85 cm/s. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.