Biotransformation of acrylonitrile to acrylamide using immobilized whole cells of Brevibacterium CH1 in a recycle fed-batch reactor

J S Hwang; H N Chang

doi:10.1002/bit.260340311

Biotransformation of acrylonitrile to acrylamide using immobilized whole cells of Brevibacterium CH1 in a recycle fed-batch reactor

Biotechnol Bioeng. 1989 Jul;34(3):380-6. doi: 10.1002/bit.260340311.

Authors

J S Hwang¹, H N Chang

Affiliation

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 131, Cheongryang, Seoul, Korea.

PMID: 18588114
DOI: 10.1002/bit.260340311

Abstract

Acrylamide was produced from acrylonitrile using immobilized Brevibacterium CH1 cells that were isolated from soil and found to possess nitrile hydratase activity. The reaction conditions and stability of the enzyme activity were studied. The conversion yield was nearly 100%, including a trace amount of acrylic acid. This strain showed strong activity of nitrile hydratase toward acrylonitrile and extremely low activity of amidase toward acrylamide. A packed bed reactor was operated in a fed-batch manner for acrylamide production of high concentration. The acrylonitrile concentration was maintained below 3% and the operating temperature at 4 degrees C to minimize enzyme deactivation.