Zeolite-catalyzed hydrolysis of inulin to fructose in a fluidized bed reactor

Conversion of fructan-rich substrates to fructose provides a suitable proce ss for producing high fructose concentration syrups. In this paper, a heter ogeneous model which describes the production of fructose from inulin in a zeolite-packed fluidized bed reactor was developed. The model accounts for external and internal mass transport resistances as well as the degree of b ack-mixing in the reactor. The kinetic model of the hydrolysis process whic h follows first order kinetics was obtained from the literature. The result ing model equations were solved analytically and the effect of some key par ameters on the system performance was evaluated. The simulation results rev ealed that it is possible to achieve near complete conversion on inulin in the practical range of parameter values. This theoretical investigation was intended to shed some light and to provide guide lines for future experime nts on the utilization of fluidized bed reactors for inulin hydrolysis.