Lactose hydrolysis by immobilized β‐galactosidase in capillary bed reactor

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Abstract
The hydrolysis of lactose by immobilized β‐galactosidase was studied in a continuous‐flow capillary bed reactor operating at 30°C. Solutions containing 50, 100, and 150 g lactose and 0.5 g sodium acetate/L were fed to the reactor. Lactose conversions ranging from 24% to greater than 99% were achieved at reactor space times ranging from 0.06 to 6.3 min. These conversion data were successfully modeled in terms of a plug flow reactor model and a form of Michaelis–Menten kinetics which included competitive inhibition by both the alpha and beta forms of galactose.