Acrylamide, biocatalytic route

Another interesting example is Mitsubishi s new route for the biocatalytic production of acrylamide [155], an intermediate produced in over 100 000 tons per year. The biocatalytic route (Figure 2.20a) is somewhat simpler than the chemical process (Cu catalyst). It is based on immobilized whole cells of Rh. rhodocrous J1 and operates under mild conditions (5 °C), that is, no polymerization inhibitors... 

Figure 5.24 Unlike the chemical route, the biocatalytic hydrolysis of acrylonitrile to acrylamide is highly selective, owing to the specific function of the nitrile hydratase enzyme.

This has been impressively demonstrated by Nitto Chemical Industries with the biocatalytic manufacture of acrylamide, an important building block for polymers and copolymers, produced in quantities of over 200000 t/y [80]. The chemocata-lytic route to acrylamide (32) uses a reduced Raney copper catalyst for hydration. This metal-catalyzed process has been shown to be superior to the acid-catalyzed hydration, but catalyst poisoning and waste-water problems due to heavy-metal content cause some problems (eq. (10)) [81, 82]. 

Figure 2.20 (a) Mitsubishi s new route for the biocatalytic production of acrylamide (b) and (c) DuPont and Lonza bioroutes, respectively, for the hydrolysis of nitriles. 

---