ABSTRACT
This chapter touches on a discussion of the use of semipermeable microcapsules for microdialysis, combined microdialysis and catalysis, combined microdialysis and adsorption, and combined microdialysis, catalysis, and adsorption. The importance of separation technology has led to extensive research in this area. Dialysis, a differential-migration process based on semipermeable membranes, is one of the important approaches to separation. Dialysis is the separation of solutes by a differential-migration process which allows certain types of molecules to cross a semipermeable membrane but excludes others. An unlimited amount of variation is possible in the selective permeability characteristics of the microcapsule membrane. Thus, the equivalent pore radius of the membrane could be varied to change the molecular size exclusion. A column of semipermeable microcapsule can also be used for differential dialysis. A number of approaches can be used to immobilize enzymes for use in separation. Immobilization by microencapsulation combines microdialysis with catalysis. Microencapsulated enzymes can be placed in a stirred solution.
