Performance of immobilized glucoamylase in a magnetically stabilized fluidized bed reactor (MSFBR)

Glucoamylase (EC 3.2.1.3. from Aspergillus niger) was immobilized onto the magnetic polystyrene particles including active groups. These particles wer e used in a magnetically stabilized fluidized bed reactor, and performance of this reactor was investigated. Magnetically stabilized fluidized bed rea ctor was made of a jacketed glass column and a coaxial selenoid covering th e whole column as the magnetic field source. An axial and homogeneous magne tic field was introduced to the column by using direct current. The effects of flow rate and magnetic field intensity on the particle behaviour in the column were investigated. The optimum operational conditions for magnetica lly stabilized fluidized bed reactor were determined and the activity perfo rmance of the immobilized glucoamylase in the reactor was researched. Highe r activities were obtained at low magnetic field intensities because of no additional diffusion problems coining from particle agglomeration occured i n the column when the magnetic field intensity was high. It was found that the fluid flow rate in the column must be as low as possible because higher flow rates require higher magnetic field intensities to keep the particles in the column. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.