Non-separating effects in a centrifugal partition chromatographic reactor for the enzymatic production of L-amino acids

The selective enzymatic hydrolysis of the L-enantiomer of a racemic mixture of N-acetyl-methionine to produce chiral amino acids was studied. The inte gration of the enzymatic hydrolysis reaction in a liquid-liquid centrifugal partition chromatographic reactor enables improved conversion of the subst rate. The influence of the composition of the phase system on mass transfer , partition behaviour and reaction kinetics was identified by independent e xperiments. These relations are incorporated in a predictive model for the effluent profiles of the chromatographic reactor. This method enables optim isation of the reactor performance by fine tuning of the phase system and e nzyme concentration. Aqueous two-phase systems were applied in centrifugal partition chromatography and phase stability determines possible phase comp ositions. Enzyme concentration in the stationary phase determines the produ ctivity of the process. Damkohlers number I (Dal) should exceed 0.14 for th e studied hydrolysis reaction. Improved conversion for the hydrolysis react ion in CPC was found to be caused by dilution of the substrate due to mass transfer limitation, rather than by the chromatographic reactor concept. Th e model predictions and the experimental reaction chromatograms agreed with in experimental error. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.