Nitrilases glycolic acid

Figure 8.9 Chemoenzymatic process forproduction of high-purity glycolic acid employing Acidovorax facilis 72W Phel68Val nitrilase...

Glycolic acid can be produced via fermentation process [6] from glycolo-nitrile hydrolysis by mineral acid, such as sulfuric acid [7,8]. Both processes produce a multi-component solution with the acid concentration typically less than 10 wt% for fermentation technology, and less than 40 wt% for glycolo-nitrile hydrolysate. The acid can be produced by the enzymatic conversion (typically the enzyme catalyst used is nitrilase or a combination of a nitrile hydratase and an amidase) of glycolonitrile which results in the production of an aqueous solution of ammonium glycolate [9]. 

S. Chauhan, R. DiCosimo, R.D. Fallon, J.E. Gavagan, and M.S. Payne, Method for producing glycolic acid from glycolonitrile using nitrilase. United States Patent, USP6416980,2002. 

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