Reaction Kinetics and Mechanism of the Molybdate-Catalyzed Epimerization of Glucose in Aqueous Solutions Using A Microstructured Reactor

In this research work the reaction kinetics of the molybdate-catalyzed epimerization of glucose in aqueous solutions has been mathematical modeled and investigated. Experiments were performed in a microstructured reactor in continuous flow regime. The results show high yield of mannose in the range between 21-27.1%, which exceeds the actual literature data with a ratio 3:1. The kinetic model is presented here as a four component systems, which describes the reaction mechanism of the molybdate-catalyzed epimerization of glucose in aqueous solutions using a microstructured reactor. Using this four component systems it is entirely possible to explain all the existing pathways of the reaction system. Furthermore, applying this kinetic model all reaction rate constants for every existing component in the examined system can be calculated. The kinetic data obtained previously, where the reaction was handled as four component systems with individual nine specific rate constants, indicated that the conversion of glucose to fructose or mannose is a reverse reaction, and the epimerization of glucose to mannose is a reaction of first-order. The kinetics of this reaction in microstructured reactors can be helpful for future reactor design and construction (for example scale-up).