Mustacchi, Roberta and Knowles, Christopher J. and Li, Hong and Dalrymple, Ian and Sunderland, Garry and Skibar, Wolfgang and Jackman, Simon A. (2005) The effect of whole cell immobilisation on the biotransformation of benzonitrile and the use of direct electric current for enhanced product removal. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 91 (4). pp. 436-440. ISSN 1097-0290
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
The nitrilase of Rhodococcus rhodochrous performs a one-step biotransformation of nitriles to their corresponding carboxylic acids. Application of a direct electric current moves the charged carboxylic acid towards an anode, across an anion exchange membrane, into a separate compartment. Cells encapsulated within alginate beads (2.9 mm diameter) for protection against the current biotransformed benzonitrile to benzoic acid with a 26% reduction in the biotransformation rate, from 0.054 mmol/min/g dcw with free cells to 0.040 mmol/min/g dcw with immobilised cells. When the electric current was applied, the biotransformation rate increased to 0.047 mmol/min/g dcw and product recovery increased from 19% to 79%.