Development of (R)-4-hydroxymandelonitrile synthesis in an aqueous-organic biphasic stirred tank batch reactor

W. F. Willeman, R Neuhofer, I Wirth, P Pöchlauer, A. J.J. Straathof*, J. J. Heijnen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A relatively new hydroxynitrile lyase-catalyzed reaction was optimized to be suitable for rapid and efficient development of a full-scale production process. The conversion of 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde into (R)-4-hydroxymandelonitrile, catalyzed by Prunus amygdalus hydroxynitrile lyase, was carried out in a biphasic system of aqueous buffer (pH 5.5) and methyl tert-butyl ether and is described with a process model. The process model consists of a description of the reaction kinetics, mass transfer kinetics, and mass balances for both the aqueous and the organic phase. Values are determined for the equilibrium constant, the enzyme kinetic parameters, the lumped mass transfer coefficient for benzaldehyde, and the partition coefficients. By using estimated prices of enzyme and reactor use, the optimum aqueous phase volume fraction and required enzyme concentration were calculated at a temperature of 20°C for a batch-operated stirred tank reactor. According to the process model it was possible to convert 90% of the 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde into (R)-4-hydroxymandelo-nitrile with 95% enantiomeric excess. The price optimum for this reaction was found at an aqueous phase volume of 17% of the total volume. The required enzyme concentration to meet the targets was 28.6 g/L aqueous phase. At the predicted optimum, the synthesis was performed experimentally and the results were in accordance with the simulation regarding the extent of conversion and the enantiomeric excess.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)154-164
JournalBiotechnology and Bioengineering
Volume79
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2002

Keywords

  • (R)-4-hydroxymandelonitrile
  • 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde
  • Biphasic reaction
  • Cyanohydrins
  • Oxynitrilase
  • Process model
  • Prunus amygdalus hydroxy-nitrile lyase
  • Stirred tank reactor

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Development of (R)-4-hydroxymandelonitrile synthesis in an aqueous-organic biphasic stirred tank batch reactor'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this