Membrane Reactors with Isolated Enzymes

Relatively complex compounds with two stereogenic centers, such as enantiopure diols, can also be synthesized using biocatalysis in reaction sequences starting from readily available building blocks. This can be demonstrated by combining an enzymatic C-C bond formation and a redox reaction in a cascade of two membrane reactors (see Fig. 3.1.5) [1, 21]. 

In a first reactor, where benzoylformate decarboxylase (BFD) is retained, benz-aldehyde and acetaldehyde are coupled to yield (S)-hydroxy-l-phenylpropanone. This hydroxy ketone is then reduced to the corresponding diol in a second reactor by an alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). Regeneration of the necessary cofactor is achieved by formate dehydrogenase (FDH) or by other methods. To avoid additional consumption of redox equivalents by unselective reduction of residual starting material from the first reactor, the volatile aldehydes are removed via an inline stripping module between the two membrane reactors. In this setup the diol was produced with high optical purity (ee, de 90%) at an overall space-time yield of 32 g L d .  

The products could be obtained in isolated overall yields of 80% in all cases. 

Yields of diols are given as overall yields for both reaction steps. 

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Fig. 3.1.5 Cascade of membrane reactors with isolated enzymes (BFD benzoylformate decarboxylase ADH alcohol dehydrogenase FDH formate dehydrogenase).

Enzymatic synthesis of E-tm-leucine is another example of the use of isolated enzymes (Bommarius et al, 1995). An NADH-dependent leucine dehydrogenase was used as a catalyst for the reductive amination of the corresponding keto acid together with formate dehydrogenase (FDH) and formate as a cofactor regenerator (Fig. 19.5b Shaked and Whitesides, 1980 Wichmann et al, 1981). Furthermore, a unique membrane reactor system involving FDH and PEG-modihed-NAD for continuous NADH regeneration... 

Enzymatic Kinetic Resolution of N-Acyl Amino Acids Coupled with Racemization by N-Acyl Amino Acid Racemase Acylases are enzymes hydrolysing the N-acetyl derivatives of amino acids. They require the free carboxylate for activity and have long been used for the kinetic resolution of amino acids. The unreacted enantiomer is usually racemized in a separate step by treatment with acetic anhydride. While acylases from hog kidney have an L-specificity, bacterial acylases with L- and D-specificity of various origins have been isolated and used for the kinetic resolution of N-acetyl amino acids. An industrial process for the production of L-Met and other proteinogenic and non-proteinogenic L-amino acids such as L-Val, L-Phe, L-Norval, or L-aminobutyric acid has been established. Currently, several hundred tons per year of L-methionine are produced by this enzymatic conversion using an enzyme membrane reactor [46]. 

The rising need for new separation processes for the biotechnology industry and the increasing attention towards development of new industrial eruyme processes demonstrate a potential for the use of liquid membranes (LMs). This technique is particularly appropriate for multiple enzyme / cofactor systems since any number of enzymes as well as other molecules can be coencapsulated. This paper focuses on the application of LMs for enzyme encapsulation. The formulation and properties of LMs are first introduced for those unfamiliar with the technique. Special attention is paid to carrier-facilitated transport of amino acids in LMs, since this is a central feature involved in the operation of many LM encapsulated enzyme bioreactor systems. Current work in this laboratory with a tyrosinase/ ascorbate system for isolation of reactive intermediate oxidation products related to L-DOPA is discussed. A brief review of previous LM enzyme systems and reactor configurations is included for reference. 

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