Modular micro reaction engineering for carboligation catalyzed by benzoylformate decarboxylase

Abstract

The downscale of different unit operations for the biocatalytic carboligation of benzaldehyde and acetaldehyde catalyzed by benzoylformate decarboxylase from Pseudomonas putida was investigated. The reactor volume was reduced to 115 μ l thus enabling a substrate and enzyme saving by a factor of 52 in comparison to standard laboratory techniques. Additionally, the successful downscale of membrane based liquid-liquid contactors was shown, which allows, for example, the screening of solvents for extraction as well as the feed of a substrate. Here, comparable volumes as well as residence times were realized, enabling the integration of all three unit operations.

Development of in situ product removal strategies in biocatalysis applying scaled‐down unit operations

“…Membrane modules can be applied for product extraction in cases where the biocatalyst is not compatible with the surface interface of the extracting solvent. This has previously been shown by Fagaschewski et al (2012).…”

“…This has previously been shown by Fagaschewski et al (2012). This option will neglect the need for having dedicated reactor modules since the high pH reservoir could also act as the reactor.…”

“…Therefore, the aim of this work is to transfer that knowledge base and scale-down concepts to biocatalysis, in order to establish a scaled-down experimental platform that can assist the development of novel and robust biocatalytic processes. In addition, the application of scaled-down technologies will ensure that scarce and valuable resources are used efficiently, which is especially important in the early development phase where resources are limited (Fagaschewski et al, 2012). Furthermore, combining scaled-down unit operations in a plug-and-play manner enables easy, robust, and flexible experimentation with the possibility of automated operation.…”

“…Combining scaled-down/microfluidic unit operations in a plugand-play manner to test multi-step synthetic systems is to some extent already established (Andrade et al, 2014;Aota et al, 2009;Fagaschewski et al, 2012;Novak and Znidarsic-Plazl, 2013;Sahoo et al, 2007). This work is different in as much as streams are recycled between modular scaled-down unit operations, as well as by compartmentalizing upstream and downstream process steps, making it possible to test biocatalysts under conditions where limiting effects caused by substrates and/or products are minimized.…”

“…Furthermore, combining scaled-down unit operations in a plug-and-play manner enables easy, robust, and flexible experimentation with the possibility of automated operation. In addition, the application of scaled-down technologies will ensure that scarce and valuable resources are used efficiently, which is especially important in the early development phase where resources are limited (Fagaschewski et al, 2012). Likewise, the small characteristic length scale and the large surfaceto-volume ratio in small scale (mL and mL) enables fast heat and mass transfer .…”