title: Continuous flow enzyme-catalyzed polymerization in a microreactor.
abstract: Enzymes immobilized on solid supports are increasingly used for greener, more sustainable chemical transformation processes. Here, we used microreactors to study enzyme-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone to polycaprolactone. A novel microreactor design enabled us to perform these heterogeneous reactions in continuous mode, in organic media, and at elevated temperatures. Using microreactors, we achieved faster polymerization and higher molecular mass compared to using batch reactors. While this study focused on polymerization reactions, it is evident that similar microreactor based platforms can readily be extended to other enzyme-based systems, for example, high-throughput screening of new enzymes and to precision measurements of new processes where continuous flow mode is preferred. This is the first reported demonstration of a solid supported enzyme-catalyzed polymerization reaction in continuous mode.
authors: Polymers Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States.
authors: Santanu
authors: S
authors: Kundu
authors: Atul S
authors: AS
authors: Bhangale
authors: William E
authors: WE
authors: Wallace
authors: Kathleen M
authors: KM
authors: Flynn
authors: Charles M
authors: CM
authors: Guttman
authors: Richard A
authors: RA
authors: Gross
authors: Kathryn L
authors: KL
authors: Beers
mesh_terms: D002175:Candida / Q000201:enzymology*; D002208:Caproates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002384:Catalysis; D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized / Q000378:metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D007783:Lactones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008049:Lipase / Q000378:metabolism*; D008832:Microchemistry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D058105:Polymerization
chemical_list: D002208:Caproates; D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D007783:Lactones; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone; C121056:caprolactone; D008049:Lipase; C431349:lipase B, Candida antarctica