Debottlenecking a 2-phase multi-enzymatic cascade by an enzyme membrane reactor – Modelling and experimental validation

• Use of an enzyme cascade reaction for the production of natural fragrances. • Model development of a mini plant based on individual lab experiments. • Use of a polymeric membrane for enzyme retention as ultrafiltration instead of common immobilization of a solid support in a mini plant scale. • Productivity is increased by the factor of 10 compared to a previous reported process. Biotechnological processes have a high potential to make industrial processes more sustainable. However, biotechnological processes often have low product concentrations and production rates. This is where process intensification can help to make these processes competitive. Using the example of the multi-enzymatic synthesis of natural cinnamyl cinnamate, it is shown how an existing multi-enzymatic process can be intensified by using an enzyme membrane reactor. The individual enzymatic reactions are first characterised in laboratory scale and then combined in a mini plant. In addition, a process model of the mini plant is developed. It is shown that the use of an enzyme membrane reactor can increase the production rate of the multi-enzymatic process by a factor of 10 compared to a previously investigated set-up.