Numerical simulation of thermal and fluiddynamical transport effects on a high pressure induced inactivation

The current paper deals with the effects of convective transport and heterogeneous thermal conditions on the uniformity of a high pressure induced inactivation by means of mathematical modelling and numerical simulation. The inactivation of B. subtilis α-amylase dissolved in TRIS-buffer is chosen as an example for a pressure induced transformation. Two different processes are considered. The first represents a direct treatment where the pressure increase is achieved by mass augmentation of the enzyme solution. The second is an indirect treatment, where the enzyme solution is packed and the pressure increase is achieved by inflow of a pressure medium into the pressure chamber. Aspects of the viscosity of the matrix as well as the heat transfer properties of the packaging material are considered. In both cases, significant process uniformities can be determined.