title: Enhancing design of immobilized enzymatic microbioreactors using computational simulation.
abstract: In continuous-flow enzymatic microbioreactors, enzymes on the channel walls catalyze reaction(s) among feed chemicals, resulting in the production of some desirable material or the destruction of some undesirable material. Computational models of microbioreactors were developed using the CFD-ACE+ multiphysics simulation package. These models were validated via comparison with experimental data for the destruction of urea, catalyzed by urease. Similar models were then used to assess the impact of internal features on destruction efficiency. It was found that triangular features within the channels enhanced the destruction efficiency more than could be attributed to the increase in surface area alone.
authors.affiliation: Chemical, Environmental, and Mechanical Engineering, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 615 McCallie Ave. Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA. robert.t.bailey@saic.com
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Elmore
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000379:methods*; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008904:Miniaturization / Q000379:methods; D008956:Models, Chemical; D014508:Urea / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D014510:Urease / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized; D014508:Urea; D014510:Urease