Industrial Biotransformations

Nitrile hydratase
Rhodococcus rhodochrous
4) Process parameters
conversion: > 99.99 %
yield: > 99.99 %
selectivity: > 99.99 %
reactor type: fed batch
capacity: > 30,000 t · a –1
residence time: 5 h
space-time-yield: 1,920 g · L –1 ·d –1
down stream processing: filtration and decoloring
enzyme activity: 76,000 U · gcells; 2,100,000 U · L –1
start-up date: 1991
production site: Nitto Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., Japan
company: Nitto Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., Japan
5) Product application
● Acrylamide is an important bulk chemical used in coagulators, soil conditioners and stock
additives for paper treatment and paper sizing, and for adhesives, paints and petroleum recovering
agents.
6) Literature
● Nagasawa, T., Shimizu, H., Yamada, H. (1993) The superiority of the third-generation catalyst,
Rhodococcus rhodochrous J1 nitrile hydratase, for industrial production of acrylamide, Appl.
Microb. Biotechnol. 40, 189–195
● Shimizu, H., Fujita, C., Endo, T., Watanabe, I. (1993) Process for preparing glycine from glycinonitrile,
Nitto Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., US 5238827
● Shimizu, H., Ogawa, J., Kataoka, M., Kobayashi, M. (1997) Screening of novel microbial
enzymes for the production of biologically and chemically usesful compounds, in: New
Enzymes for Organic Synthesis; Adv. Biochem. Eng. Biotechnol. 58 (Ghose, T.K., Fiechter, A.,
Blakebrough, N., eds.), pp. 56–59
● Yamada, H., Tani, Y. (1982) Process for biologically producing amide, EP 093782 B1
EC 4.2.1.84
● Yamada, H., Kobayashi, M. (1996) Nitrile hydratase and its application to industrial production
of acrylamide, Biosci. Biotech. Biochem. 60, 1391–1400
● Yamada, H., Tani, Y. (1987) Process for biological preparation of amides, Nitto Chemical Industry
Co., Ltd., US 4637982
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