Application of a Continuous Two Impinging Streams Reactor in Solid−Liquid Enzyme Reactions

The isomerization of d -glucose to d -fructose, using the immobilized glucose isomerase, as a typical example of solid−liquid-catalyzed reactions has been carried out in a tangential flow two impinging streams reactor (TFTISR). The results obtained for the conversion of glucose in TFTISR were much higher than those expected in conventional reactors. This indicates the greater performance capability of TFTISR relative to those of classical reaction systems. A compartment model was devised to describe the pattern of flow within the reactor. Considering such a flow pattern, a stochastic model for the residence time distribution (RTD) of solid particles was developed, using Markov chains discrete formulation. The latter was correlated with the experimental RTD data, obtained by applying a tracer analysis method.