title: Degradation of pesticides in a continuous-flow two-phase microemulsion reactor.
abstract: Biocatalytic processes in reversed micelles are limited by the need for continuous reactors in which reaction and separation are feasible. In this paper, we report the design and testing of a continuous-flow centrifugal bioreactor for the enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis of the common pesticide paraoxon in reverse micelles of Tween 85. In this system, organophosphorus hydrolase catalyzes hydrolysis of the pesticide in an organic-organic two-phase system. The enzyme is retained in one of the phases by encapsulation in reversed micelles, while the other phase is under a continuous flow. This liquid-liquid plug-flow reactor does not leach enzyme because the enzyme is not soluble in the flowing organic phase that contains the paraoxon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Komives
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Osborne
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D043303:Aryldialkylphosphatase; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002384:Catalysis; D002498:Centrifugation / Q000295:instrumentation; D004655:Emulsions; D004950:Esterases; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008823:Micelles; D008846:Micromanipulation; D010261:Paraoxon / Q000737:chemistry*; D011136:Polysorbates
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D008823:Micelles; D011136:Polysorbates; D004950:Esterases; D043303:Aryldialkylphosphatase; D010261:Paraoxon