Feasible and optimal retrofitting of batch-soluble to continuous-immobilized enzyme processes applied to adsorbed...

The advantages of retrofitting an in situ soluble enzyme batch process to an immobilized enzyme continuous process are contrasted against the disadvantages by means of a dimensionless feasibility/optimization analysis. The general analysis is applied to the case of an adsorbed enzyme system where a maximum in activity occurs with respect to loading. For this case, a minimum in the ratio of enzyme-carrier complex working lifetime to in situ batch process time and a maximum in the cost difference between the in situ and retrofit processes occurs with respect to loading and retrofit process conversion. For the maximization of cost difference, the analysis also suggests a criterion that can be used to determine whether the values for optimal loading and retrofit conversion will result in the retrofit being economically feasible. When infeasibility occurs, qualitative sensitivity analysis for a variety of situations points out whether a catalyst or process modification will improve feasibility the most. Apart from forming the basis for an iterative retrofit process design algorithm, the modeling approach's ability to specify optimal values of catalyst properties such as loading lends itself to defining process-specific, catalyst design "targets" would be useful for those developing immobilized enzyme preparation methodology and those investigating enzyme-carrier interactions.