Biocatalytic membrane reactor and membrane emulsification concepts combined in a single unit to assist production and separation of water unstable reaction products

The aim of the present work was to develop and proof the concept of an integrated and intensified membrane system able to carry out in a single operation unit, bioconversion (in water phase), and simultaneous separation of reaction products (having different solubility and stability in water), by creating water in oil emulsion. To achieve this aim, the concepts of biocatalytic membrane reactor and membrane emulsification have been integrated. This resulted in a combined membrane operation system where hydrolysis occurred within the microporous membrane structure (that contained immobilized enzyme) and extraction occurred at the membrane interface. Here, the permeating water reaction phase was collected as droplets into the organic phase circulated along the lumen membrane surface. The oleuropein hydrolysis into glucose and isomer of oleuropein aglycon (3,4-DHPEA-EA) by means of beta-glucosidase immobilized in porous polymeric membrane has been used as a model reaction system.