Flow fluorimetric investigations on reaction kinetics of a growing analytical bioreactor

The turnover of a small continuously stirred tank reactor with variable volume is measured by two independent methods simultaneously: conventional flow-through fluorimetry is used for integral measurement of the total turnover and flow-through impulse fluorimetry for measurement of the dispersed turnover of the particles themselves. The hydrolysis of resorufin-β-d-galactopyranoside by β-galactosidase immobilized on Sepharose 4B and on Eupergit C serves as fluorogenic reaction. All parameters (flow rates, stirrer speed, concentrations, gel particle density and growth functions) are controlled by a computer. The allometric turnover kinetics of the growing bioreactor are compared with those of growing organisms.