QREC Computer Controlled Batch Enzyme Reactor

The Computer Controlled Batch Enzyme Reactor, "QREC", has been designed by EDIBON to perform the glucose isomerisation reaction catalyzed by glucose isomerase in a batch reactor. This unit allows to demonstrate batch enzyme kinetics and enzyme characteristics.

The "QREC" is divided in three main sections: stirred batch reactor, coil heat exchanger and polarimeter.

The isomerisation reaction takes place inside the batch reactor, where a fixed catalyst basket immobilizes the enzyme (biological catalyst) and a stirrer increase the efficiency of the mixture. This reactor has a coil through which hot water circulates to favor the reaction. It is made of glass to facilitate the visualization of the reaction. A temperature sensor measures the temperature in the reactor. It can be controlled with the PID control through the control software. This temperature sensor and a pH sensor allow to study the influence of environmental conditions on enzyme activity. The unit allows to adjust the pH value by adding acid and base solutions.

A continuous sampling loop driven by a peristaltic pump takes a small volume of solution from the reactor. This solution is transferred to the coil heat exchanger, where it is cooled. This heat exchanger is made of acrylic material and glass and includes a stirrer, a temperature sensor to measure the temperature in the heat exchanger and other sensor to measure the temperature of the solution at the outlet of the heat exchanger.

The cool solution passes through a polarimeter, where the angle of rotation of the polarized light is measured. From this measurement, the concentration of glucose and fructose can be calculated.

This Computer Controlled Unit is supplied with the EDIBON Computer Control System (SCADA), and includes: The unit itself + a Control Interface Box + a Data Acquisition Board + Computer Control, Data Acquisition and Data Management Software Packages, for controlling the process and all parameters involved in the process.