Kinetic study of acetaldehyde conversion to ethanol by free and CNT-immobilized baker's yeast in a gas-phase packed bed reactor

Catalytic activity of the whole cell baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) was studied for converting acetaldehyde (AC) to ethanol (ET) in a gas-phase packed bed reactor. The baker's yeast was considered at free and immobilized conditions, to convert AC as an air pollutant to the less harmful product of ET. The influence of operating conditions, such as inlet AC concentration, cells’ water content and temperature, was studied on the cells’ activity. The best conditions from the point of ET productivity and cell stability was detected at temperature of 318 K and water content of 0.23 ± 0.02 g water/g dry cell, using free cells. The cell immobilization was performed by doping on the surface of multiwalled carbon nanotube (CNT) under a mild centrifugal force. The activity of CNT-immobilized cells towards ET formation was improved by 6% and the stability of the cells was improved by 43% respectively in comparison with the free cells’ activity and stability.

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