Enzymatic catalysis and electrostatic process intensification for processing of natural oils

The work described here is concerned with the enhancement of liquid–liquid contact of oil/water mixtures using high voltage electrical fields. The enzymatic hydrolysis of high oleate sunflower oil was studied in an electrically enhanced liquid–liquid reactor. The kinetics of the reaction were measured at a range of applied electrical field strengths. The effect of electrical field upon liquid hold-up was also determined. The performance of a laboratory scale electrically enhanced enzymatic reactor was evaluated in batch mode, in recycle mode and in continuous mode of operation. The results of the study showed that the rate of reaction was significantly enhanced as the magnitude of the applied electrical field was increased. The dispersed phase hold-up in the recycle reactor was reduced at increased electrical field strength and the rate of phase separation enhanced. The enhanced interfacial area generated by electrostatic dispersion was one factor in the observed increase in the reaction rate. However the specific rates of reaction (rate of conversion per unit interfacial area) for electrical dispersions showed a very large increase when compared with dispersions of similar quality which were generated by mechanical agitation. A clear difference in the rate of reaction for a negative electrical field was also observed when compared with a positive electrical field.