The purpose of this study is to model glucose production from lignocellulosic biomass in a well mixed and at steady state series of CSTRs with continuous substrate and enzyme addition. The kinetic model for enzymatic hydrolysis assumes a pseudo-homogeneous Michaelis-Menten mechanism. Glucose and cellobiose profiles during hydrolysis of delignified sugarcane bagasse are fitted to a kinetic model for an initial substrate concentration of 5% W/V.

Two case studies are considered: a series of n CSTRs of optimal volumes and a series of n CSTRs of equal volumes, both with and without recycle. The reaction of particulate biomass in a CSTR is considered equivalent to segregated micromixing with respect to the substrate and complete micromixing with respect to the aqueous phase and the conversion is predicted using a particle population model in conjunction with the batch kinetics. Finally, a discussion is made about other reaction systems and modes of operation with respect to enzyme and substrate in order to reach the practical realization of the technology.