The effect of whole cell immobilisation on the biotransformation of benzonitrile and the use of direct electric current for enhanced product removal.
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%.
Mustacchi
Roberta
R
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, 62, Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 6PN, UK.
Knowles
Christopher J
CJ
Li
Hong
H
Dalrymple
Ian
I
Sunderland
Garry
G
Skibar
Wolfgang
W
Jackman
Simon A
SA
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*
D000464:Alginates; D002214:Capsules; D009570:Nitriles; D019817:Benzoic Acid; C014356:benzonitrile; D000619:Aminohydrolases; C021867:nitrilase