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Spatially resolved in situ determination of reaction progress using microfluidic systems and FT-IR spectroscopy as a tool for biocatalytic process development

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Abstract

A concept for the determination of concentrations in microchannels using FT-IR spectroscopy in transmission is presented. The fundamental idea of spatially resolved measurements along several measuring points was implemented in a single-channel microreactor. Compared to existing microreactor setups for the analysis of fast chemical reactions or mixing processes, the presented concept enables longer residence times at appropriate resolution. Once steady-state conditions were reached in the reactor, mid-infrared spectra were collected at different locations. Information throughout the considered conversion range is available, which is of great importance to analyze inhibitory effects, next to the kinetic constants (v max and K M). Therefore, this technology enables a rapid screening of (bio-)catalysts, substrate specificity and process conditions. In particular, the analysis of real substrates instead of model substrates and the possibility to follow side reactions and follow-up reactions during enzymatic catalysis open a broad field of application.

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Abbreviations

2D:

Two-dimensional

ASE:

Advanced silicon etching

ATR:

Attenuated total reflectance

CalB:

Candida antarctica lipase B

FID:

Flame ionization detector

FT-IR:

Fourier transform infrared

GC:

Gas chromatography

IR:

Infrared

LaOEt:

Ethyl levulinate

LOD:

Limit of detection

LOQ:

Limit of quantitation

µTAS:

Micro total analysis system

PLS:

Partial least squares

RMSECV:

Root mean square error of cross-validation

SERS:

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

STR:

Stirred tank reactor

b, b 0 :

Regression coefficient

c La :

Concentration of levulinic acid

c LaOEt :

Concentration of ethyl levulinate

E(θ):

Density curve of dimensionless residence time

v max :

Maximum reaction rate

K I :

Inhibition constant

K M :

Michaelis constant

n :

Number of data sets

θ :

Dimensionless residence time

v :

Reaction rate

x i :

Measured spectrum

y i :

Calibration value

\({\hat{y}}_{i}\) :

Predicted value

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Technical Biocatalysis, Hamburg University of Technology, Denickestrasse 15, 21073, Hamburg, Germany

    Janosch Fagaschewski, Daniel Sellin, Charles Wiedenhöfer & Lutz Hilterhaus

  2. Institute of Microsystems Technology, Hamburg University of Technology, Eissendorfer Strasse 42, 21073, Hamburg, Germany

    Sven Bohne & Hoc K. Trieu

Authors
  1. Janosch Fagaschewski
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  2. Daniel Sellin
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  3. Charles Wiedenhöfer
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  4. Sven Bohne
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  5. Hoc K. Trieu
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  6. Lutz Hilterhaus
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lutz Hilterhaus.

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Fagaschewski, J., Sellin, D., Wiedenhöfer, C. et al. Spatially resolved in situ determination of reaction progress using microfluidic systems and FT-IR spectroscopy as a tool for biocatalytic process development. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 38, 1399–1405 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-015-1381-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-015-1381-z

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