What features of enzymes make them so useful in industrial processes?
Specificity - enzymes can catalyse reactions between specific chemicals. Fewer by-products are formed. Temperature of enzyme action - most function well at lower temperatures saving money.
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What is downstream processing?
The extraction of enzyme from the fermentation mixture.
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What must happen in order for the product of a enzyme-controlled reaction to be generated?
Enzyme and substrate must be able to collide and form enzyme-substrate complexes.
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How is this achieved?
By mixing quantities of substrate and isolated enzymes together under suitable conditions for the enzyme to work. The product then has to be extracted.
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Why would we use immobilised enzymes?
So they can catalyse the enzyme-controlled reaction but do not mix freely with the substrate as they normally would in a cell/isolated system.
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What are the advantages of using immobilised enzymes?
Downstream processing costs will be low as enzymes are not present with products. Enzymes immediately available for reuse and immobilised enzymes are more stable as the immobilising matrix protects the enzyme processes.
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What are the disadvantages of using immobilised enzymes?
Requires additional time, equipment and materials so is more expensive. Can be less active as they do not freely mix with the substrate. Contamination is costly to deal with.
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What does the precise method used for a particular process depend on?
Ease of preparation, cost, relative importance of enzyme leakage and efficiency.
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