Kinetics and modelling of an alcoholysis reaction catalyzed by cutinase immobilized on NaY zeolite

Fusarium solani pisi recombinant cutinase was immobilized by adsorption on NaY zeolite. The kinetics of the alcoholysis reaction of butyl acetate with hexanol in isooctane catalyzed by cutinase immobilized on NaY zeolite, was studied. The reaction kinetics is suggested to follow a Ping-Pong bi-bi me chanism in which competitive inhibition by excess of alcohols has been iden tified. No evidence of any significant external diffusional limitation has been detected. The time validation of the model was successfully achieved s imultaneously for 15 experimental product evolutions in a batch stirred tan k reactor (BSTR) for different initial reactant concentrations. (C) 2001 El sevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.