Enzymatic conversion process

Claim 1

A continuous process for the enzymatic chemical conversion of a substrate solution by contacting the substrate solution with granular immobilized enzyme in an expanded or fluidized state, said process comprising: (a) passing a substrate solution continuously in an upward direction through a single column reactor which is divided by horizontal partitions pervious to the substrate solution into at least three compartments, each compartment containing a fluidized bed of granular immobilized enzyme having a specific gravity greater than that of the substrate solution, said partitions being substantially impervious to the granular enzyme (b) periodically passing said granular immobilized enzyme in a downward direction from each compartment to the next lower compartment, feeding fresh enzyme to the upper compartment and discharging spent enzyme from the lowest compartment, and (c) continuously removing the solution containing converted substrate from the top of the column.