Malcata, F. Xavier2011-10-212011-10-211991MALCATA, F. Xavier - On the approximate analytical solution of a problem of optimization in the field of immobilized enzymes. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology. ISSN 0020-739X. Vol. 22, n.º 2 (1991), p. 177 - 185http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/6651The problem of optimizing the thickness of a microporous slab containing an immobilized enzyme is addressed, using an economic criterion as the objective function. The steady-state material balance to the substrate as transported by diffusion and depleted by a biochemical reaction following classical Michaëlis-Menten kinetics within the pellet is obtained. Taking advantage of a number of algebraic manipulations and mathematical artefacts, one is able to solve the resulting second-order, non-linear differential equation by an analytical method, provided that an upper error bound for the solution in the order of 5 per cent is acceptable. The validity of the approximation is tested, and useful applications are reported.engjournal article10.1080/00207399102202020002752095