title: The effect of whole cell immobilisation on the biotransformation of benzonitrile and the use of direct electric current for enhanced product removal.
abstract: The nitrilase of Rhodococcus rhodochrous performs a one-step biotransformation of nitriles to their corresponding carboxylic acids. Application of a direct electric current moves the charged carboxylic acid towards an anode, across an anion exchange membrane, into a separate compartment. Cells encapsulated within alginate beads (2.9 mm diameter) for protection against the current biotransformed benzonitrile to benzoic acid with a 26% reduction in the biotransformation rate, from 0.054 mmol/min/g dcw with free cells to 0.040 mmol/min/g dcw with immobilised cells. When the electric current was applied, the biotransformation rate increased to 0.047 mmol/min/g dcw and product recovery increased from 19% to 79%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, 62, Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 6PN, UK.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mustacchi
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Knowles
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dalrymple
authors.forename: Garry
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sunderland
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Skibar
authors.forename: Simon A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Jackman
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000378:metabolism*; D000619:Aminohydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D019817:Benzoic Acid / Q000032:analysis*; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D001711:Biotransformation; D002214:Capsules / Q000378:metabolism; D018914:Cells, Immobilized / Q000378:metabolism; D004586:Electrophoresis / Q000379:methods; D007218:Industrial Microbiology; D007700:Kinetics; D009570:Nitriles / Q000378:metabolism*; D012240:Rhodococcus / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D002214:Capsules; D009570:Nitriles; D019817:Benzoic Acid; C014356:benzonitrile; D000619:Aminohydrolases; C021867:nitrilase