Pseudonocardia thermophila

Acrylonitrile produced industrially via propylene ammoxidation contains trace amounts of benzene. When using Pseudonocardia thermophila JCM3095 or Rhodococcus rhodochrous J-1 as microbial NHase catalyst for conversion of acrylonitrile to acrylamide, concentrations of benzene of <4 ppm produced a significant increase in the reaction rate [16]. Maintaining the concentration of HCN and oxazole at <5 ppm and <10 ppm respectively produced high-quality acrylamide suitable for polymerization. 

Yamaki, T., Oikawa, T., Ito, K., et al. 1997. Cloning and sequencing of a nitrile hydratase gene from Pseudonocardia thermophila JCM3095. Journal of Fermentation and Bioengineering, 83 474-7. 

Peplowski, L., Kubiak, K., 8c Nowak, W. (2008). Mechanical aspects of nitrile hydratase enzymatic activity. Steered molecular dynamics simulations of Pseudonocardia thermophila JCM 3095. Chemical Physics Letters, 467,144. 

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