title: Batch and continuous 2-heptanone production by Ca-alginate/Eudragit RL entrapped spores of Penicillium roquefortii.
abstract: The synthesis of 2-heptanone from octanoic acid by Caalginate/Eudragit RL entrapped spores of Penicillium roquefortii is performed in batch and continuous reactions. The measurement of the HCI solution needed to overcome the pH increase during the course of a reaction allows continuous monitoring of the reaction progress of batch as well as continuous processes without any aliquot sampling. The hydration of the biocatalyst prior to a bioconversion performance is of major importance to achieve reproducible results. A continuous reaction carried out at pH 6.5 for one month demonstrates the feasibility of such a process and shows that the reaction occurs with a Michaelian behavior, with K(M) = 1.82 mmol/L and r(sm) = 0.82 mmol/L h, and no intraparticle diffusion limitation is found. The complex behavior of the spores during batch reactions makes this kind of operation unsuitable for kinetic studies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Génie Chimique Biologique, Université Blaise Pascal, F-63177 Aubiere Cedex, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Larroche
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Gros