Biocatalytic membrane reactors: principles, preparation and biotechnological, pharmaceutical and medical applications

Abstract: Biocatalytic membrane reactors are widely used in different industrial applications including those of the food industry, and in fine chemical, biological, biomedical and pharmaceutical productions, environmental treatments and so on. The application of bio-catalytic membrane reactors to research in these fields has an important effect on our daily lives, as well as on the professional environment concerned. This chapter considers the value of using biocatalytic membrane reactors, based on traditional and novel methods, for enzyme- and cell-immobilization; moreover, characterization and assessment of their performance is carried out. Finally, the chapter describes their applications in biotechnology, such as hydrolysis, organic synthesis, production of bio-ethanol, pharmaceutical products, optical resolution and medical fields such as artificial organs.