Effect of Micromixing on the Homogeneous Enzyme Reaction

Experimental and theoretical studies are carried out for the effect of micromixing on the hydrolysis of sucrose by invertase in a continuous-flow stirred-tank reactor. The rate equation is expressed as a lower order reaction than first with respect to sucrose concentration. In the experiment, the feed liquid was changed from a solution of sucrose to that of a mixture of invertase and sucrose, and the sucrose concentration in transient state was measured. Theoretical analysis has been made on the basis of the micromixing model proposed in the previous paper. The values of parameter in the model are determined from correlation with the Re, which has been obtained previously by experiments with second-order reaction. From the experimental results, it was found that micromixing promotes hydrolysis. These results are predicted theoretically and the observed data agree well with the theoretical values.