1.- Study of the principles of catalytic batch reactors.
2.- Study of the type of enzyme in the specific activity of a catalytic batch reactors.
3.- Determination of optical rotation of fructose and glucose.
4.- Demonstration of Biot's law.
5.- Study of the principles of polarimetry.
6.- Determination of the glucose and fructose concentration by polarimetry.

7.- Study of the influence of different variables

(solution concentration, reaction temperature, reaction pH) on enzyme activity.
8.- Determination of Michaelis-Menten rate equation constants in a batch enzyme reactor.
9.- Determination of the enzyme specific activity through MichaelisMenten equation and LineweaverBurke plots.
10.- Study of the principles of batch enzyme kinetics.
Other possible practices:
11.- Sensors calibration.
12-30.- Practices with PLC.

1. QREC. Unit:

The Computer Controlled Batch Enzyme Reactor (QREC) is an unit designed to perform the glucose isomerisation reaction catalyzed by glucose isomerase in a batch reactor. This unit allows to demonstrate batch enzyme kinetics and enzyme characteristics.
Anodized aluminum structure and panels of painted steel. Diagram in the front panel with similar distribution to the elements in the real unit.

Stirred batch reactor:
  - A reactor, made of acrylic material and glass, where the isomerisation reaction takes place. It allows the visualization of the reaction. Reactor volume: 1.8 l.
  - An inner coil through which hot water circulates to favor the isomerisation reaction.
  - A fixed catalyst basket immobilizes the enzyme.
  - A computer controlled stirrer to increase the efficiency of the enzyme-solution mixture.
  - The pH value of the solution can be adjusted by using the acid/base circuit system.

Coil heat exchanger:
  - A reactor, made of acrylic material and glass, where a small volume of the transferred solution of the reactor is cooled.
  - Exchanger volume: 1.8 l.
  - An inner coil through which the reaction solution circulates.
  - A computer controlled stirrer to homogenize the temperature in the heat exchanger.

Polarimeter to allow to measure the angle of rotation of polarized light to determine the concentration of glucose and fructose in the solution.
A computer controlled peristaltic pump to transfer a small volume of solution from the stirred batch reactor to the coil heat exchanger.

4 “J” type temperature sensors:
  - 1 Temperature sensor located at the stirred batch reactor.
  - 2 Temperature sensors located at the coil heat exchanger to measure the temperature of the water inside the heat
  - exchanger and the outlet temperature of the solution.
  - 1 Temperature sensor located at the thermostatic bath of the hot water circulation system.

A pH sensor measures the pH of the mixture inside the stirred batch reactor.
A hot water circulation system, including:
  - Computer controlled pump.
  - Thermostatic bath, controlled by a PID from the computer (PC).

An acid/base circuit system, including:
  - Two peristaltic pumps (computer controlled) to introduce an acid or base solution into the stirred batch reactor.
  - Two vessels to contain the acid and base solutions.
A pressure reducer at the water inlet of the coil heat exchanger.

2. QREC/CIB.Control Interface Box:  

With process diagram in the front panel. The unit control elements are permanently computer controlled. Simultaneous visualization in the PC of all parameters involved in the process. Calibration of all sensors involved in the process. Real time curves representation. All the actuators’ values can be changed at any time from the keyboard. Shield and filtered signals to avoid external interferences. Real time PID control with flexibility of modifications from the PC keyboard of the PID parameters, at any moment during the process. Open control allowing modifications, at any moment and in real time, of parameters involved in the process. 3 safety levels: mechanical in the unit, electronic in the control interface, and the third one in the control software.

3. DAB. Data Acquisition Board:

PCI Express Data acquisition National Instruments board to be placed in a computer slot. 16 Analog inputs. Sampling rate up to: 250 KS/s. 2 Analog outputs. 24 Digital Inputs/Outputs.

4. QREC/CCSOF.PID Computer Control+Data Acquisition+Data Management Software:

Flexible, open and multicontrol software. Management, processing, comparison and storage of data. Sampling velocity up to 250 KS/s (kilo samples per second). It allows the registration of the alarms state and the graphic representation in real time.

5. Cables and Accessories:

 for normal operation.

6. Manuals:  

Dimensions and weights (approx.)= Unit: 800 Weight: 60 Kg. x 700 x 800 mm.
Polarimeter: 600Weight: 18 Kg. x 320 x 220 mm.
Control Interface Box: 490 x 330 x 310 mm. Weight: 10 Kg.