Medium for Enzymes Aqueous vs Organic Solvent, Polymers, Crystalline Enzymes, Transesterification, Aminolysis, Thiotransesterification

	Home
Biocatalysis and Enzyme Biotechnology Biocatalysis and Enzyme Biotechnology - Introduction Some Research Activities Involving Enzymatic Synthesis Properties of Enzymes Parameters Affecting Enzymatic Reactions Definitions of Some Parameters used for Describing Key Properties of Enzymes Medium for Enzymes Aqueous vs Organic Solvent Selectivity of Enzymes Types of Enzymes Biomimetic Catalysts Enzymes Commonly Used in Organic Synthesis Extremozymes Cofactor Dependent Enzymes and Cofactor Regeneration Modular Enzymes Coenzymes Use of Enzymes Medical and Clinical Uses Drugs for Digestive Disorders Industrial Uses Uses of Industrial Uses Textile Industry Uses of Leather Industry Uses of Paper Industry Cellulase Free Xylanases Uses of Food Industry Isolation and Purification of Enzymes

Home >> Industrial and Microbial Biotechnology >> Biocatalysis and Enzyme Biotechnology >>Medium for Enzymes Aqueous vs Organic Solvent

Your Ad Here

Medium for Enzymes Aqueous vs Organic Solvent
Most enzymes function in their natural aqueous media, which limit their use in industry for the production of speciality chemicals and polymers, for which organic solvents are the more suitable reaction media, provided the enzyme can function in such a medium. Normally, the enzymes get denatured in aqueous-organic mixture, leading many to believe that they will do so in pure organic solvents also. However, it was shown during 1985-2000, that various crystalline enzymes retain their structure even in anhydrous solvents. In fact, some enzymatic reactions work better in organic solvents. Sometimes, enzymes may be more stable and specific to the organic solvents, thus providing opportunities for their use in industries, where aqueous solvents become a limitation.

There are several factors, which facilitated the use of organic solvents in enzymatic reactions: (i) Transesterification (due to addition of alcohol), aminolysis (due to addition of amines) and thiotransesterification (due to addition of thiols) are suppressed in aqueous solution and are important transformations that are needed in industry. (ii) Hydrophobic solvents are superior to hydrophilic solvents, because the latter will strip from the enzyme molecules, the tightly bound water (which is essential for catalytic activity). (iii) No specific pH is needed, while using organic solvents. (iv) The enzymes in organic solvents can be lyophilized to give enzyme powder without any damage to the enzyme activity. In brief we can say that strategies are being developed to have more efficient enzymes in organic solvents, their activities sometimes being comparable to that in aqueous medium.

	Home
Extraction of Enzymes Preparation of Crude Enzymes Purification of Enzymes Chromatography Adsorption Chromatography Ion Exchange Chromatography Gel Filtration Chromatography Affinity Chromatography Electrophoresis Immobilization of Enzymes or Whole Cells Techniques for Immobilization Adsorption Method Covalent Binding Method Cross Binding Method Some Reagents Used to Immobilize Enzymes by Cross Linking Entrapping Method Entrapping by Microencapsulation Requirements for Commercial use of Immobilized Enzyme Systems Enzyme Carrier Systems Some Applications of Immobilized Enzymes and Whole Cells Reactor Types Operating Strategy Stability of Immobilization and Protection of Immobilized EnzymesCells Some Examples of the Use of Immobilized Enzymes Cells Industrial Biocatalysis Biotransformation of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids PUFAs Hydrolalse Mediated Biotransformations Oxidative Biotransformation Enzyme Engineering