Membrane reactors bioreactors

Keywords. Extractive bioconversions. Membrane reactors. Bioreactors, Process integration... 

Chapter 4 (Santucci, Tosti, Basile) is mainly focused on the development of membranes based on metals other than Pd, such as Ni, Nb, V and Ti, which are considered today promising substitutes for the Pd-alloys. Particular attention is given to the synthesis of these membranes as well as to the effect of alloying on their chemical-physical properties. The chapter also provides a description of two porous (ceramic and glass) membranes used as a support for the new metal alloys, in gas separation and in membrane reactors, respectively. The objective of Chapter 5 (Gugliuzza) is to document what is known about nanocomposite polymeric membranes and the procedures of fabrication. Their potentialities in catalytic membrane reactors, bioreactors and membrane operations for alternative power production are highlighted. 

Cabral and coworkers [253] have investigated the batch mode synthesis of a dipeptide acetyl phenylalanine leucinamide (AcPhe-Leu-NH2) catalyzed by a-chymotrypsin in a ceramic ultrafiltration membrane reactor using a TTAB/oc-tanol/heptane reverse micellar system. Separation of the dipeptide was achieved by selective precipitation. Later on the same group successfully synthesized the same dipeptide in the same reactor system in a continuous mode [254] with high yields (70-80%) and recovery (75-90%). The volumetric production was as high as 4.3 mmol peptide/l/day with a purity of 92%. The reactor was operated for seven days continuously without any loss of enzyme activity. Hakoda et al. [255] proposed an electro-ultrafiltration bioreactor for separation of RMs containing enzyme from the product stream. A ceramic membrane module was used to separate AOT-RMs containing lipase from isooctane. Application of an electric field enhanced the ultrafiltration efficiency (flux) and it further improved when the anode and cathode were placed in the permeate and the reten-tate side respectively. 

The possibility of having membrane systems also as tools for a better design of chemical transformation is today becoming attractive and realistic. Catalytic membranes and membrane reactors are the subject of significant research efforts at both academic and industrial levels. For biological applications, synthetic membranes provide an ideal support to catalyst immobilization due to their biomimic capacity enzymes are retained in the reaction side, do not pollute the products and can be continuously reused. The catalytic action of enzymes is extremely efficient, selective and highly stereospecific if compared with chemical catalysts moreover, immobilization procedures have been proven to enhance the enzyme stability. In addition, membrane bioreactors are particularly attractive in terms of eco-compatibility, because they do not require additives, are able to operate at moderate temperature and pressure, and reduce the formation of by-products. 

Applications of whole-cell biocatalytic membrane reactors, in the agro-food industry and in pharmaceutical and biomedical treatments are listed by Giorno and Drioli [3], Frazeres and Cabral [9] have reviewed the most important applications of enzyme membrane reactors such as hydrolysis of macromolecules, biotransformation of lipids, reactions with cofactors, synthesis of peptides, optical resolution of amino acids. Another widespread application of the membrane bioreactor is the wastewater treatment will be discussed in a separate section. 

Membrane bioreactors have been reported for the production of diltiazem chiral intermediate with a multiphase/extractive enzyme membrane reactor [15, 16]. The reaction was carried out in a two-separate phase reactor. Here, the membrane had the double role of confining the enzyme and keeping the two phases in contact while maintaining them in two different compartments. This is the case of the multiphase/ extractive membrane reactor developed on a productive scale for the production of a chiral intermediate of diltiazem ((2R,3S)-methylmethoxyphenylglycidate), a drug used in the treatment of hypertension and angina [15]. The principle is illustrated in... 

A very interesting field in membrane bioreactors is the production of cyclodextrins or oligosaccharides. In general, they have applications in food pharmaceutical, cosmetic agricultural, and plastics industries as emulsifiers, antioxidant, and stabilizing agents. In the food industry cyclodextrins are employed for the preparation of cholesterol-free products. The use of enzymatic membrane reactors to produce... 

Membrane Bioreactors with Membrane as Bio reactor 310 Enzyme Membrane Reactor 311 Whole-Cell Membrane Bioreactor 312 Membrane Bioreactors with Membrane as Separation... 

Fermentation is typically conducted in dilute suspension culture. The low concentration in such systems limits reaction efficiency, and the presence of particulate and colloidal solids poses problems for product recovery and purification. By circulating the fermentation broth through an ultrafiltration system, it is possible to recover product continuously as they are generated while minimizing loss of enzyme or cells and keeping product concentration in the bioreactor below the self-inhibition level for the biocatalyst. This process is referred to as perfusion. As the ultrafiltration unit is part of the production process, the entire system is often considered a membrane reactor. 

Prazeres DMF, Cabral JMS (2001) Enzymatic membrane reactors. In Cabral JMS, Mota M, Tramper J (eds) Multiphase bioreactor design. Taylor Francis, London... 

There have been numerous studies exploring the concept of membrane reactors. Many of them, however, are related to biotechnological applications where enzymes are used as catalysts in such reactions as saccharification of celluloses and hydrolysis of proteins at relatively low temperatures. Some applications such as production of monoclonal antibodies in a hollow fiber membrane bioreactor have just begun to be commercialized. 

The OHLM systems, integrating reaction, separation, and concentration functions in one equipment (bioreactor), find a great interest of researchers in the last few years. A bioreactor combines the use of specific biocatalyst for the desired chemical reactions, and repeatedly or continuously application of it under very specific conditions. Such techniques were termed as hybrid membrane reactors. In biotechnology and pharmacology, these applications are termed as hybrid membrane bioreactors or simply bioreactors (see Table 13.11). Experimental setup of the bioreactor system is shown schematically in Figure 13.17. 

The purpose of this chapter is to review the critical factors contributing to MBR process performance and to report recent advancements in key areas. Coverage is directed toward membrane separation bioreactors, although recent developments in membrane biofilm reactors will be briefly discussed. Much of the current MBR research effort is directed toward municipal wastewater applications however, substantial commonalities exist with respect to industrial wastewater appheation and where possible, reference is made to the specific aspects of the technology when applied to the treatment of industrial wastewater. 

The principal part of the pilot plant comprises a biological reactor (bioreactor) in whose interior the biomass is placed, and two external modules of ultrafiltration membranes placed in series. Figure 41.2 depicts a flow diagram of this pilot plant, which is described in more detail below. 

The most suitable driving force in BI is the reduction of the diffusion path that already operates in transport processes across biological bilayers. Consequently, biocatalyst membranes and specially designed bioreactors, such as jet loop and membrane reactors, are available to intensify biochemical reactions. " " Supported biocatalysts are often employed to enhance catalytic activity and stability and to protect enzymes/ microorganisms from mechanical degradation and deactivation.f Immobilization of the cells is one of the techniques employed to improve the productivity of bioreactors. 

Marconi, J.G.S. Tsotsis, T.T. Membrane bioreactors. In Catalytic Membranes and Membrane Reactors, Wiley-VCH Weinheim, 2002 Chapter 4, 15-96. 

There is no commonly accepted definition of a membrane reactor but the term is applied to membrane (including liquid membrane) processes and devices whose function is to perform chemical conversion, coupling and combining chemical and transport processes, using the unique contacting features of membranes. As a rule, functional definition of this term includes fermentation, catalysis, separation of the products and their enrichment. A few published reviews at this time are available [98-104]. In most of pubhcations the bioreactors, based on enzymes or whole cells, impregnated into the membrane pores (immobihzed or supported hquid membranes) or deposited on the membrane surfaces are discussed. 

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