title: Immobilized enzyme studies in a microscale bioreactor.
abstract: Novel microreactors with immobilized enzymes were fabricated using both silicon and polymer-based microfabrication techniques. The effectiveness of these reactors was examined along with their behavior over time. Urease enzyme was successfully incorporated into microchannels of a polymeric matrix of polydimethylsiloxane and through layer-bylayer self-assembly techniques onto silicon. The fabricated microchannels had cross-sectional dimensions ranging from tens to hundreds of micrometers in width and height. The experimental results for continuous-flow microreactors are reported for the conversion of urea to ammonia by urease enzyme. Urea conversions of >90% were observed.
authors.affiliation: Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 615 MacCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37403-2598, USA.
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Forrest
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: Zonghuan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elmore
authors.forename: Bill B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Elmore
mesh_terms: D001709:Biotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry; D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized / Q000737:chemistry*; D005285:Fermentation; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009757:Nylons / Q000737:chemistry; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry; D012828:Silicones / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors; D014508:Urea / Q000737:chemistry; D014510:Urease / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized; D009757:Nylons; D012828:Silicones; C085707:poly(dimethylsiloxane)-polyamide copolymer; C013830:baysilon; D014508:Urea; D014510:Urease; D012825:Silicon