Production of l-DOPA using Cu-alginate gel immobilized tyrosinase in a batch and packed bed reactor

In this study, production of l-DOPA ( l-3, 4-dihydroxy phenylalanine) was investigated by using tyrosinase enzyme in batch and packed bed reactors. Tyrosinase has been immobilized with method of entrapment in copper-alginate gels. l-DOPA concentration obtained from batch reactor for free and immobilized enzyme was 9.5 and 4.5 mg/L, respectively. l-DOPA concentration was obtained as 1.2 mg/L in the packed bed reactor. When air was introduced l-DOPA production increased 6.4 times in packed bed reactor and the productivity was calculated as 110 mg/L h.