Abstract:

For the study of bioreactors, the practical experience of students in the laboratory is indispensable, but the high cost and maintenance of the equipment makes it prohibitive for many universities. For this reason, simulators have acquired great importance, as they can be used as Virtual Laboratories.

In this work we present a self-developed simulator to be used in Chemical Engineering subjects in the study of enzymatic reactors. It is a simulator for a continuous tank reactor, in steady state, where a reaction catalyzed by enzymes immobilized in porous spherical particles takes place, with a Michaelis-Menten kinetics with competitive inhibition by product. The mathematical expression of the rate equation used encompasses other simpler kinetics, Michaelis-Menten without inhibition, order zero and order one.

The validity of this model has been verified by comparing the conversions obtained by running the program with values of the modules that simulate kinetics of order zero and one, with those obtained analytically, since these two kinetics are the only ones for which the design equation can be solved analytically.

For the studied kinetics, Michaelis-Menten with competitive inhibition by product, the design equation has no analytical solution and has been solved by numerical calculation, specifically using the bisection method. The calculation algorithm has been coded in the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) language, whose Editor is integrated into the Excel Spreadsheet. This a programming language previously taught to students so they can easily understand the coding.

By carrying out simulations for a wide range of the dimensionless modules involved, the influence of the different parameters of the system on the conversion to the reactor outlet can been evaluated and discussed by the students, allowing a deeper understanding of the theoretical aspects involved.

This simulator can be used as a Virtual Laboratory in subjects of two Degrees of the University of Murcia: "Biochemical Engineering", of the Degree in Chemical Engineering, and "Engineering of Biochemical Reactions. Bioreactors", of the Degree in Biotechnology.

From the educational point of view, for students it is an interesting exercise to solve the equations of the model by numerical calculation, and the transition from the calculation algorithm to the programming language. The simulator is made available to them in the Virtual Classroom so that, autonomously, they can study the influence of the different variables involved in the dimensionless modules on the conversion obtained in the reactor. By providing a dynamic, visual, and interactive learning environment, the simulator serves as a powerful tool to support modern teaching methodologies such as flipped classroom and active learning.

Keywords:

Technology, virtual laboratory, education, active learning, flipped classroom, interactive learning.