Industrial Biotransformations

Nitrile hydratase
Rhodococcus rhodochrous
Fig. 4.2.1.84 – 5
EC 4.2.1.84
● Since acrylamide is unstable and polymerizes easily, the process is carried out at low temperatures
(about 5 °C).
● Although the cells, which are immobilized on polyacrylamide gel, and the contained enzyme
is very stable towards acrylonitrile, the educt has to be fed continuously to the reaction mixture
due to inhibition effects at higher concentrations.
● The following table summarized important production data for the discussed strains:
485