Bioengineering and catalysis are important aspects of chemical reaction engineering education. Problems associated with the maintentance of biocultures have prevented thee introduction of bioreactors into chemical engineering lab courses. Similarly, the high temperatures and pressures coupled with student safety concerns have prevented the widespread use of catalytic reactor systems for student laboratories. This project will develop an immobilized enzyme bioreactor that will allow students to thoroughly study both bioengineering and catalysis systems without the problems associated with conventional reactor systems. The resulting process will be an inexpensively constructed apparatus for illustration of the principles of chemical catalysis that can be operated at near ambient temperatures and pressures. Student interest will be maintained since the reactor system is based on a proven industrial process. This option for study of catalytic bioreactors may not have occurred to many chemical engineering departments. Thus, when the results of this project are presented and published, there will be a significant positive impact on the chemical engineering laboratory curriculum nationwide.
