GAS-PHASE ETHYL-ACETATE PRODUCTION IN A BATCH BIOREACTOR

Gas phase ethyl acetate production was studied using a porcine pancrea tic lipase powder. It was observed that gaseous ethyl acetate was prod uced from gaseous ethanol and acetic acid. Accordingly, the effects of amount of lipase powder, gaseous ethanol and acetic acid concentratio ns, and reaction temperature on the performance of a batch bioreactor were investigated. Apparent Michaelis-Menten constant of ethanol was 0 .163 [mu M] and there was no inhibition by ethanol over the range inve stigated. As acetic acid concentration increased, ethyl acetate produc tion increased to a maximum, then decreased, thus suggesting the inhib ition effects by acetic acid. Over the reaction temperature of 25-55 d egrees C, activation energy was calculated as 3.93 kcal/gmol and initi al reaction rate was obtained as follows: r = 75.7 exp(-1975.7/T) [mu M/mg of lipase/hr].