Mechanical stability of some immobilised preparations for glucose isomerisation in fixed and agitated bed columns

Immobilised preparations mechanical stability was studied by an analysis of particle disintegration in fixed and agitated beds of laboratory reactors. The analysis was carried out by comparing the particle size distributions obtained for three different states within the overall time-course of operation: The initial state, an intermediate state and the final one. It was found that mechanical stability by both fixed bed operation and paddle mixing was high. Agitation by flat discs was shown to cause intensive particle attrition. The relationships observed are discussed with regard to the flow pattern of the various types of reactors.