Electro-ultrafiltration of reverse micelles containing enzyme

Abstract

The electro-ultrafiltration of reverse micelles was investigated for use as a membrane reactor for continuous enzymatic reaction. A ceramic membrane module of tubular type was used to separate the Aerosol OT reverse micelles containing lipase from the continuous phase of iso-octane. The rejection of reverse micelles as well as the permeation flux were measured under different conditions of applied voltage, flow velocity and trans-membrane pressure. The permeation flux increased with increase in the applied voltage, and the application of an electric field improved the ultrafiltration efficiency of the reverse micelles containing enzyme. When the anode and the cathode were set in the permeate side, and in the retentate side respectively, the flux was larger than that obtained with the reverse setting of the electrodes. The dielectrophoretic force as well as the electrophoretic force were supposed to influence the movement of the reverse micelles in the membrane module where the electric field was nonuniform.