Integrated preservation of water activity as key to intensified chemoenzymatic synthesis of bio-based styrene derivatives

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Authors

  • Philipp Petermeier
  • Jan Philipp Bittner
  • Tobias Jonsson
  • Pablo Domínguez de María
  • Emil Byström
  • Selin Kara

Research Organisations

External Research Organisations

  • Aarhus University
  • Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH)
  • Sustainable Momentum SL
  • SpinChem AB
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Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number57
JournalCommunications Chemistry
Volume7
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 14 Mar 2024

Abstract

The valorization of lignin-derived feedstocks by catalytic means enables their defunctionalization and upgrading to valuable products. However, the development of productive, safe, and low-waste processes remains challenging. This paper explores the industrial potential of a chemoenzymatic reaction performing the decarboxylation of bio-based phenolic acids in wet cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME) by immobilized phenolic acid decarboxylase from Bacillus subtilis, followed by a base-catalyzed acylation. Key-to-success is the continuous control of water activity, which fluctuates along the reaction progress, particularly at high substrate loadings (triggered by different hydrophilicities of substrate and product). A combination of experimentation, thermodynamic equilibrium calculations, and MD simulations revealed the change in water activity which guided the integration of water reservoirs and allowed process intensification of the previously limiting enzymatic step. With this, the highly concentrated sequential two-step cascade (400 g·L –1) achieves full conversions and affords products in less than 3 h. The chemical step is versatile, accepting different acyl donors, leading to a range of industrially sound products. Importantly, the finding that water activity changes in intensified processes is an academic insight that might explain other deactivations of enzymes when used in non-conventional media.

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Cite this

Integrated preservation of water activity as key to intensified chemoenzymatic synthesis of bio-based styrene derivatives. / Petermeier, Philipp; Bittner, Jan Philipp; Jonsson, Tobias et al.
In: Communications Chemistry, Vol. 7, No. 1, 57, 14.03.2024.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Petermeier, P, Bittner, JP, Jonsson, T, María, PDD, Byström, E & Kara, S 2024, 'Integrated preservation of water activity as key to intensified chemoenzymatic synthesis of bio-based styrene derivatives', Communications Chemistry, vol. 7, no. 1, 57. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-024-01138-x
Petermeier, P., Bittner, J. P., Jonsson, T., María, P. D. D., Byström, E., & Kara, S. (2024). Integrated preservation of water activity as key to intensified chemoenzymatic synthesis of bio-based styrene derivatives. Communications Chemistry, 7(1), Article 57. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-024-01138-x
Petermeier P, Bittner JP, Jonsson T, María PDD, Byström E, Kara S. Integrated preservation of water activity as key to intensified chemoenzymatic synthesis of bio-based styrene derivatives. Communications Chemistry. 2024 Mar 14;7(1):57. doi: 10.1038/s42004-024-01138-x
Petermeier, Philipp ; Bittner, Jan Philipp ; Jonsson, Tobias et al. / Integrated preservation of water activity as key to intensified chemoenzymatic synthesis of bio-based styrene derivatives. In: Communications Chemistry. 2024 ; Vol. 7, No. 1.
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abstract = "The valorization of lignin-derived feedstocks by catalytic means enables their defunctionalization and upgrading to valuable products. However, the development of productive, safe, and low-waste processes remains challenging. This paper explores the industrial potential of a chemoenzymatic reaction performing the decarboxylation of bio-based phenolic acids in wet cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME) by immobilized phenolic acid decarboxylase from Bacillus subtilis, followed by a base-catalyzed acylation. Key-to-success is the continuous control of water activity, which fluctuates along the reaction progress, particularly at high substrate loadings (triggered by different hydrophilicities of substrate and product). A combination of experimentation, thermodynamic equilibrium calculations, and MD simulations revealed the change in water activity which guided the integration of water reservoirs and allowed process intensification of the previously limiting enzymatic step. With this, the highly concentrated sequential two-step cascade (400 g·L –1) achieves full conversions and affords products in less than 3 h. The chemical step is versatile, accepting different acyl donors, leading to a range of industrially sound products. Importantly, the finding that water activity changes in intensified processes is an academic insight that might explain other deactivations of enzymes when used in non-conventional media.",
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