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Immobilized laccase reactors for process intensification: Kinetic comparison of batch and continuous-flow systems
1Department of Food and Life Science, School of Agriculture, Tokai University, 871-12 Sugido, Mashiki, Kamimashiki, Kumamoto 861-2205, Japan; Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokai University, 871-12 Sugido, Mashiki, Kamimashiki, Kumamoto 861-2205, Japan; Graduate School of Bioscience, Tokai University, 871-12 Sugido, Mashiki, Kamimashiki, Kumamoto 861-2205, Japan.
Journal of Biotechnology
|June 5, 2026
Summary
Flow reactors with immobilized enzymes offer process intensification. This study compared batch and flow immobilized laccase systems for malachite green decolorization, finding flow systems enhance reaction rates.
Area of Science:
- Biocatalysis
- Chemical Engineering
- Enzyme Technology
Background:
- Immobilized enzyme reactors are key for process intensification in biocatalysis.
- Systematic kinetic comparisons between batch and flow configurations are limited.
- Laccase enzymes are versatile biocatalysts for various transformations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To kinetically compare immobilized laccase performance in batch versus flow reactors.
- To evaluate process intensification using acetosyringone-mediated malachite green decolorization.
- To establish a quantitative kinetic framework for immobilized enzyme systems.
Main Methods:
- Immobilized laccase on a copolymer resin in batch and packed-tube flow reactors.
- Spectrophotometric monitoring of malachite green decolorization.
- Kinetic analysis using pseudo-first-order models and Arrhenius plots.
Main Results:
- Flow reactors demonstrated significantly higher reaction rates for malachite green decolorization.
- Immobilized laccase in flow achieved rapid decolorization, outperforming batch mode.
- Higher apparent activation energy in flow indicated increased temperature dependence.
Conclusions:
- Continuous-flow operation of immobilized enzyme reactors enables process intensification.
- The study provides a quantitative kinetic basis for comparing batch and flow immobilized enzyme systems.
- Immobilized laccase systems showed stability and reusability in both batch and flow operations.
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