Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 8, 2026

A Scalable Balz-Schiemann Reaction Protocol in a Continuous Flow Reactor
Published on: February 10, 2023
Continuous-flow enzymatic reactor for medium- and long-chain triglycerides production: From process intensification
Chuang Yang1, Yufei Zhang2, Mingming Zheng3
1Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Lipid Chemistry and Nutrition, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Oilseeds Processing, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan 430062, China; Key Laboratory of Jianghuai Agricultural Product Fine Processing and Resource Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Anhui Engineering Research Center for High Value Utilization of Characteristic Agricultural Products, College of Food and Nutrition, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
Abstract:
Medium- and long-chain triglycerides (MLCTs), valued next-generation functional lipids, face challenges including low efficiency and undesirable flavor loss in enzymatic production. Herein, we developed a solvent-free continuous-flow fixed-bed bioreactor using hydrophobically modified mesoporous silica microspheres for lipase immobilization (CSL@MMSS-C8). Under optimized conditions (rapeseed oil:MCT = 6:4 w/w, 50 °C, flow rate 1 mL/min), the system achieved a 73.5% MLCT conversion. Enhanced operational stability was demonstrated over 30 days of continuous operation, yielding 320 g MLCT per gram of catalyst. Moreover, this continuous-flow reactor can be applied to the transesterification synthesis of MLCT from over ten types of oils, achieving conversion rates exceeding 71.28%. In addition, electronic nose and GC-MS based volatile flavor profiling confirmed preservation of the source materials' characteristic flavors in the product. These combined attributes of increased content, exceptional catalyst longevity, and flavor conservation render this continuous-flow biocatalytic process readily scalable for industrial MLCT manufacture.
Related Concept Videos
Electron Transport Chains
The ETC is comprised of...
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Chain Branching
Continuing Care
Continuity of a Function
Continuity Equation
The mass flow rate is expressed as:
Continuity Equation

