engleski

Mathematical model of the flow in the microchannel

Microreaction technology and microreactors are increasingly gaining importance due to a number of advantages over traditional reactors. In this study the oxidation of L-DOPA in aqueous media catalyzed by enzyme laccase from Trametes versicolor was observed in microreactor. The importance of oxidation of L-DOPA-e is production of melanin, pigment in the skin. The purpose of this study is to present a mathematical model of the reaction system, to simulate the process, and thereby to determine the concentration profiles of components and to calculate the conversion in microreactor. A two-dimensional mathematical model was developed. The model is composed of convection, diffusion and enzymatic reaction terms. Enzyme kinetics was described with Michaelis-Menten equation and kinetic parameters, used in this study, were previously experimentally determined. The resulting non-linear system of partial differential equations, which describe the process, was solved numerically using finite differences method. Software package Matlab was used to simulate the resulting system of ordinary equations. The resulting concentration profiles of individual components within microchannel were shown in 3D graphs, and conversions were calculated. Based on the mathematical model it is possible to perform the process optimization and further microreactor design.

laccase; L-DOPA; microreactor; mathematical model

Ovaj se tekst temelji na radu koji je financirala Nacionalna zaklada za znanost, visoko školstvo i tehnologijski razvoj Republike Hrvatske.