Use of hydrate formation to control membrane mimetic systems

摘要

A process is disclosed for regulating the size and composition of the internal reaction medium of a membrane mimetic system using clathrate hydrate formation under gas pressure conditions. When the disclosed membrane mimetic system is in contact with a clathrate forming gas, some of the water in the internal reaction medium is converted to crystalline hydrate form, which physically and chemically isolates the water from the remainder of the internal reaction medium. In one preferred process embodiment, the membrane mimetic system is used for enzymatic polymer synthesis in an organized medium to control the size and morphology of the polymer particles formed.