Bioconversion of acrylonitrile to acrylamide using polyacrylamide entrapped cells of Rhodococcus rhodochrous PA-34

• DOI: 10.1007/s12223-010-0074-x
• Publication Date: 2010-10-13T19:22:10Z
• Authors: J. Raj; S. Prasad; N. N. Sharma; T. C. Bhalla
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Acrylamide; Acrylonitrile; Acrylic Resins; Cells, Immobilized; 16. Peace & justice; 6. Clean water; 12. Responsible consumption; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Bacterial Proteins; Rhodococcus; Hydro-Lyases; Biotechnology

The nitrile hydratase (NHase) of Rhodococcus rhodochrous PA-34 catalyzed the conversion of acrylonitrile to acrylamide. The resting cells (having NHase activity) (8 %; 1 mL corresponds to 22 mg dry cell mass, DCM) were immobilized in polyacrylamide gel containing 12.5 % acrylamide, 0.6 % bisacrylamide, 0.2 % diammonium persulfate and 0.4 % TEMED. The polyacrylamide entrapped cells (1.12 mg DCM/mL) completely converted acrylonitrile in 3 h at 10 °C, using 0.1 mol/L potassium phosphate buffer. In a partitioned fed batch reactor, 432 g/L acrylamide was accumulated after 1 d. The polyacrylamide discs were recycled up to 3×; 405, 210 and 170 g/L acrylamide was produced in 1st, 2nd and 3rd recycling reactions. In four cycles, a total of 1217 g acrylamide was produced by recycling the same mass of entrapped cells.