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Updated: Jul 3, 2026
09:27
Immobilization of Multi-biocatalysts in Alginate Beads for Cofactor Regeneration and Improved Reusability
Published on: April 22, 2016
Immobilized catalase: deactivation and reactor stability
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York 13676, USA.
Biotechnology and Bioengineering
|January 20, 1993
Summary
Continuous flow reactors with immobilized catalase can suddenly fail due to substrate-inhibited reactions. This study examines the catastrophic shift from high to low conversion states in hydrogen peroxide decomposition.
Area of Science:
- Biochemical Engineering
- Chemical Reaction Engineering
Background:
- Continuous flow reactors are crucial in chemical and biochemical processes.
- Enzyme-catalyzed reactions, like hydrogen peroxide decomposition by catalase, can exhibit complex behaviors.
- Substrate inhibition and self-poisoning can lead to reactor instability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the quasi-steady state behavior of continuous flow reactors with immobilized catalase.
- To analyze the exchange-of-steady-states phenomenon in substrate-inhibited, self-poisoning reactions.
- To examine this phenomenon using experimental data from bovine liver catalase.
Main Methods:
- Investigated quasi-steady state behavior in a continuous flow reactor.
- Studied the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide by immobilized catalase.
- Analyzed experimental evidence for the exchange-of-steady-states phenomenon.
Main Results:
- Identified conditions under which reactors are susceptible to sudden failure.
- Observed catastrophic shifts from high- to low-conversion quasi-steady states.
- Correlated these findings with experimental data for bovine liver catalase.
Conclusions:
- The exchange-of-steady-states phenomenon is a critical consideration for reactor design and operation.
- Understanding substrate-inhibited, self-poisoning reactions is key to preventing catastrophic reactor failure.
- Immobilized catalase reactors demonstrate this instability, highlighting the need for careful process control.
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