Biocatalysis cross-linked enzymes

The major application of cross-linked enzyme crystals in the pharmaceutical and fine chemicals industry is in biocatalysis or the use of CLCs to catalyze various... 

JJ Lalonde, C Govardhan, RA Persichetti, Y-F Wang, AL Margolin. Process-scale application of CLECs the processing and economic benefits of using cross-linked enzyme crystals as biocatalysts. Proc. Industrial Biocatalysis InBio 96, Manchester, UK, 1996. 

Another category of enzymatic transformations in multiphase systems is enzymes immobilized on the reactor wall as presented in Table 10.4. Enzymes are advantageously used in immobilized form because this strategy allows for increased volumetric productivity and improves stability. Continuous mode of operation is employed in these systems. The approaches commonly used for immobilization in conventional multiphase biocatalysis can also be employed in microreactors such as covalent methods, cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEA), and adsorption methods. The experimental setups can either be chip-type reactors with activated charmel surface walls where enzyme binds, or enzyme immobilized monolith reactors, where a support is packed inside a capillary tube. 

The application of enzymes as catalysts in organic chemistry is closely linked to their immobilization. Indeed, many enzymes are only available in an immobilized form. The immobilized enzymes can be used as received, greatly easing their application. Numerous of these readily available immobilized enzymes are now the working horses of biocatalysis. This has even led to the incorrect use of the abbreviation of an enzyme name for a specific enzyme preparation, that is CALB for the immobilized form of Candida antarctica lipase B on cross-linked polymethacrylate (also known as Novozym 435). Vice versa the commercial name of an enzyme preparation-Amano PS-has taken the place of the enzyme (Burkhdderia cepacia lipase on dextrin or diatomaceous earth). Surprisingly, often no attention is paid to the fact that the enzyme is immobilized [1]. 

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