Applications of Multiphasic Microreactors for Biocatalytic Reactions

During the past decade, there was rapid progress in integrating microfluidic reactors and biocatalytic reactions for various applications. The combination of miniaturized technologies and microfluidics allowed coupling of scale- and time-dependent phenomena for bioprocess intensification. However, coupling microreactors and biocatalysis is highly complex, requiring an integrated approach addressing biocatalyst features, reaction kinetics, mass transfer, and reactor engineering, as outlined in this review. Dimensionless numbers are discussed, which help identify rate limiting steps and offer opportunities to enhance the overall reaction performance in solid–liquid biocatalytic reactions. This integrated concept is realized in a case study based on the biocatalytic conversion of styrene to (S)-styrene oxide using catalytic biofilms to demonstrate the pivotal role of this integrated approach for evolving the optimal (micro)-reactor configuration and design.