ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the use of membranes for enzyme immobilizations. A membrane, besides its porous structure which is beneficial for enzyme immobilizations, can be advantageous for its product separation capabilities along with the potential for biocatalytic conversions. The chapter discusses that general mesoporous membranes appearing as a flat sheet and hollow fiber and nanofiber membranes piled by nanofibers. It analyzes the research in enzyme immobilizations on membranes from the perspectives of the enzyme immobilizations on mesoporous and nanofiber membranes, and the structure and application of enzyme-immobilized membrane bioreactors. Configuration of enzyme-immobilized membrane bioreactors can be monophasic, or biphasic regarding to the flowing fluid phases depending on the solubility of the substrates and reaction products. The entrapment of enzymes in nanofiber membranes can be achieved by direct co-electrospinning of enzymes and bulk fiberforming material. The monophasic membrane bioreactor can have a simple fabrication process and high catalytic performance with more intensive flow.
