The need to synthetize various enantiomers for preparative purposes poses a significant challenge for modern chemical engineering. The ability to rapidly prototype microfluidic devices, in which reaction-transport processes are significantly intensified, offers a potential solution to this problem. Our study aims to develop a functional modular microfluidic system capable of continuously producing an industrially significant enantiomer (R)-(+)-1-phenylethanol (R-PE) from racemic 1-phenylethyl acetate (PEAc). The system consists of a packed-bed reactor (PBR) with an immobilized lipase, which synthesizes R-PE, and a slug flow extractor (SFE), where the unreacted substrate is removed from the reaction solution using hexane. From the experimental data, we determined the values of kinetic parameters for enzymatic hydrolysis and found that R-PE competitively inhibits the reaction. In SFE, we examined the yields of 1-phenylethanol, and the separation efficiency for PEAc, and determined the values of the volumetric mass transfer coefficient. The obtained knowledge enabled us to operate the PBR and SFE in a series, with a total residence time of 260 s. The overall yield of R-PE in the modular system reached nearly 90 % under the chosen conditions. The reaction time of the enzymatic process was shortened by up to 100 times compared to traditional batch reactors. The detailed knowledge about the kinetics of the enzymatic reaction and the extraction process allowed for the harmonization of residence times in both devices, suggesting a pathway for quick production of optically active compounds with high yield.

中文翻译：

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模块化微流控系统中 （R）-1-苯乙醇的酶合成和连续流分离


合成各种对映异构体用于制备目的的需求对现代化学工程构成了重大挑战。快速制作微流体设备原型的能力，其中反应-传递过程显着加强，为这个问题提供了潜在的解决方案。我们的研究旨在开发一种功能性模块化微流控系统，能够从外消旋 1-乙酸苯乙酯 （PEAc） 中连续生产具有工业意义的对映异构体 （R）-（+）-1-苯乙醇 （R-PE）。该系统由一个带有固定化脂肪酶的填充床反应器 （PBR） 组成，该脂肪酶合成 R-PE，以及一个段塞流萃取器 （SFE），其中使用己烷从反应溶液中去除未反应的底物。从实验数据中，我们确定了酶解的动力学参数值，发现 R-PE 竞争性地抑制了反应。在 SFE 中，我们检查了 1-苯乙醇的产率和 PEAc 的分离效率，并确定了体积传质系数的值。获得的知识使我们能够串联操作 PBR 和 SFE，总停留时间为 260 s。在所选条件下，模块化系统中 R-PE 的总产量达到近 90%。与传统的间歇式反应器相比，酶法工艺的反应时间缩短了 100 倍。关于酶促反应动力学和提取过程的详细知识允许协调两种装置中的停留时间，为快速生产高产率的光学活性化合物提供了途径。