Applications of Fluidized Bed Reactors in Biocatalysis

The fluidized bed reactor combines the properties of a stirred tank reactor and a continuous tubular reactor. Its advantages are its high transfer capacity and its use with liquid and gas phases. This device has been used to degrade contaminants and synthesize cosmetics, food, pharmaceuticals, lubricants, and biodiesel compounds. Its versatility will constitute an attractive alternative for developing biocatalytic systems.

The main objective of this article is to review previous contributions on the applications of fluidized bed reactors (FBR) in biocatalysis. FBR combines the properties of a stirred tank reactor and a continuous tubular reactor, making it an efficient system for carrying out enzymatic reactions with immobilized enzymes. This equipment's advantages include its high transfer capacity and versatility, as it can be used with liquid and gaseous phases. According to the literature, these devices have been primarily used to degrade contaminants, synthesize cosmetic ingredients, produce food and pharmaceutical compounds, and synthesize biolubricants and biodiesel. The enzymes most used in fluidized bed mode are laccases, lipases, and proteases immobilized on methacrylate resins, mesoporous silicas, alginate, and chitosan beads. Enzyme immobilization is essential, as it can promote the suspension of biocatalyst particles, thereby increasing yields and productivity. One of the leading prospects for these systems is to stabilize the fluidized bed using a magnetic field and the concept of “microfluidization,” which enables the stabilization of smaller biocatalyst particles with smaller equipment, thereby increasing efficiency and intensifying the biocatalytic process. In the future, the versatility of FBR will constitute an attractive alternative for developing biocatalytic systems.

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