Effect of Nonuniform Activity Distribution in a Porous Support on Apparent Kinetic Parameters of a Packed-Bed Immobilized Enzyme Reactor

Abstract

The effect of nonuniform activity distribution in a porous support on the apparent kinetic parame-ters, V_m^app and K_m^app, of a packed-bed immobilized enzyme reactor has been theoretically investigated. V_m^app and K_m^app increase with the increase of external diffusional resistance, regardless of the type ofnonuniform activity distribution. As the external diffusional resistance becomes significant, the apparent kinetic parameters became less dependent on the substrate concentration at the reactor inlet. Like the case of diffusional resistance or electrostatic field, the nonuniform activity distribution had a significant effect on K_m^app.