An Immobilized Enzyme Reactor for Chemical Engineering Laboratory Courses

生物工程和催化是化学反应工程教育的重要内容。与生物培养物的维护有关的问题阻碍了生物反应器引入化学工程实验课程。同样，高温和高压加上学生的安全问题，阻碍了催化反应器系统在学生实验室的广泛使用。该项目将开发一种固定化酶生物反应器，使学生能够彻底研究生物工程和催化系统，而不会出现传统反应器系统的问题。由此产生的过程将是一个廉价的装置，用于说明化学催化的原理，可以在接近环境温度和压力下操作。学生的兴趣将保持，因为反应器系统是基于一个成熟的工业过程。许多化学工程部门可能没有考虑过催化生物反应器的研究。因此，当这个项目的结果被介绍和出版时，将对全国范围内的化学工程实验室课程产生重大的积极影响。

Bioengineering and catalysis are important aspects of chemical reaction engineering education. Problems associated with the maintentance of biocultures have prevented thee introduction of bioreactors into chemical engineering lab courses. Similarly, the high temperatures and pressures coupled with student safety concerns have prevented the widespread use of catalytic reactor systems for student laboratories. This project will develop an immobilized enzyme bioreactor that will allow students to thoroughly study both bioengineering and catalysis systems without the problems associated with conventional reactor systems. The resulting process will be an inexpensively constructed apparatus for illustration of the principles of chemical catalysis that can be operated at near ambient temperatures and pressures. Student interest will be maintained since the reactor system is based on a proven industrial process. This option for study of catalytic bioreactors may not have occurred to many chemical engineering departments. Thus, when the results of this project are presented and published, there will be a significant positive impact on the chemical engineering laboratory curriculum nationwide.