A novel reactive perstraction system based on liquid-core microcapsules applied to lipase-catalyzed biotransformations

A novel reactive perstraction system has been developed based on liq.-core capsules, involving an enzyme-catalyzed reaction coupled with simultaneous in situ product recovery. Lipase-catalyzed reactions, hydrolysis of triprionin and nitrophenyl laurate, were selected to test the system and demonstrate the feasibility of immobilization of enzymes to the membranes of liq.-core capsules and the ability to ext. hydrophobic products of the reaction within the capsule core. The lipase from Candida rugosa was immobilized to the microcapsules by adsorption and by covalent binding through activation with glutaraldehyde. In both cases improved temp. and operational stability were achieved. Both types of immobilization resulted in a basic shift of the pH optimum for activity, from 7.5 to 9.0. The presence of an org. phase within the capsule core allowed direct product sepn. and lead to a decrease in product inhibition of the lipase-catalyzed reaction. [on SciFinder (R)]