Microgels for a combined enzymatic reaction and in situ extraction in liquid-liquid systems (C05)

• Subject Area: Chemical and Thermal Process Engineering
• Term: from 2016 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 191948804

An enzyme-catalyzed reaction will be coupled with the microgel-intensified extraction from the 2nd funding period to overcome equilibrium limitations and product inhibitions. Enzymes will be immobilized in microgels for the application in a continuous in situ separation process. This technique offers beneficial attributes for the reaction-extraction process due to the direct supply of the reactants to the catalytic active center and the possibility of catalyst recycling. The distribution of enzymes embedded in microgels and their activity will be investigated microscopically with fluorescence imaging. With the combined results, a continuous mini-plant process will be put into operation.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 985: Functional Microgels and Microgel Systems
• Applicant Institution: Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
• Project Heads: Professor Dr.-Ing. Andreas Jupke; Professor Dr. Dominik Wöll