Thermal inactivation of immobilized enzymes in ideal continuous reactors

The limitation of thermal inactivation on catalytic activity in continuous enzymatic reactions is considered. Where an enzyme is retained in a reaction environment which is open to mass transfer of reaction components, the effect of enzyme inactivation on reactant conversion depends on the order of the chemical reaction and the pattern of fluid flow through the reaction volume. Equations expressing conversion as a function of time for first-order inactivation are presented for Michaelis-Menten kinetics and the limiting fluid flow conditions of plug flow and complete back-mixing. Substrate protection or destruction of an enzyme is also considered and it is shown theoretically that the catalytic life of an enzyme may be optimized by the proper choice of fluid flow pattern.