DEGRADATION OF PESTICIDES IN A CONTINUOUS-FLOW 2-PHASE MICROEMULSION REACTOR

Biocatalytic processes in reversed micelles are limited by the need for continuous reactors in which reaction and separation are feasible. In this paper, we report the design and testing of a continuous-flow centrifugal bioreactor for the enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis of the common pesticide paraoxon in reverse micelles of Tween 85. In this system, organophosphorus hydrolase catalyzes hydrolysis of the pesticide in an organic-organic two-phase system. The enzyme is retained in one of the phases by encapsulation in reversed micelles, while the other phase is under a continuous flow. This liquid-liquid plug-flow reactor does not leach enzyme because the enzyme is not soluble in the flowing organic phase that contains the paraoxon.