In this PhD thesis, the scope and limitations of industrial biotechnology are critically evaluated, based on current research and in particular on green chemistry requirements.
Several efficient biotransformations were scaled up from analytical to preparative applications, exemplified by glucose oxidase, laccase (Novozym® 51003) and recombinant pig liver esterase. For process intensification in biocatalysis modern micro reaction technology was introduced. The enzymatic oxidation of glucose is examined for the first time in a falling film microreactor (FFMR), comparatively evaluated and transferred into a larger scale.
An early eco-efficiency analysis of a laccase-initiated oxidative C-N coupling in comparison to a chemocatalytic route helped to improve the productivity of the biotransformation. An additional focus lies on the process development of selective oxidative C-C couplings to multigram scale using Novozym® 51003. Thereby, the in situ FTIR analyses facilitate new insights in molecule specific restrictions and identify the occurrence of polymerizations, especially in emulsions and suspensions. As a result, a fast oxidative dimerization of 2,6-disubstituted phenols to colorful diquinones was realized in a multigram scale with high atom-efficiency and selectivity.
A final example of bioprocess development covers the use of recombinant pig liver esterases for the enantioselective desymmetrization of dimethyl cyclohex-4-ene-cis-1,2-dicarboxylate at 250 g scale. An excellent conversion of 100% and high enantiopurity with >99.5% ee was obtained.