QRCB Réacteurs Catalytiques à Lit Fixe pour Hydrolyse du Saccharose

Sucrose hydrolysis is a reversible reaction widely used at the industrial level to produce glucose and fructose. This process benefits greatly from catalysis, both chemical and enzymatic, and is a representative example of using fixed-bed reactors in continuous processes.

The Fixed-Bed Catalytic Reactors for Sucrose Hydrolysis, "QRCB", designed by EDIBON, enable practical, controlled study of the hydrolysis reaction under industrial-like conditions. The design of the Fixed-Bed Catalytic Reactors for Sucrose Hydrolysis, "QRCB", facilitates the analysis of different types of catalysis (chemical and enzymatic) and the impact of operational variables such as temperature, flow rate, and catalyst particle size.

The unit includes three fixed-bed reactors: two dedicated to chemical catalysis, using the same catalyst (ion-exchange resins) with different particle sizes, and a third reactor for enzymatic catalysis, utilizing an immobilized enzyme to carry out sucrose hydrolysis.

The reaction occurs at controlled temperatures between 50 °C and 60 °C, maintained by a hot-water recirculation system through which hot water will flow. The water temperature is controlled through the potentiometer of the thermostatic bath.

Sucrose solution feeding is performed with a variable-speed peristaltic pump which allows the regulation of speed by using a potentiometer. The resulting solution is collected in a final-product flask and can be analyzed with a spectrophotometer.

Optionally, the Flow Injection Analysis (FIA) Unit, "QRCB-IF" can be included, allowing continuous measurement of the reaction conversion degree.