Novel reactor for aqueous-organic two-phase biocatalysis: A packed bed hollow fiber membrane bioreactor

Summary Hollow fiber membranes were potted in a tubular shell with a particulate, microporous, enzyme bearing support packed in the shell space. A bicontinuous system was thus formed with the reactants, supplied through the shell and the fiber lumen, forming an interface at the surface of the particles. Acid production rates, without any reactor optimization, up to four times greater than with membrane reactors were obtained during the lipase catalyzed hydrolysis of ethyl laurate and olive oil.