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Process intensification with integrated multi-enzyme systems

English title Process intensification with integrated multi-enzyme systems
Applicant Panke Sven
Number 121918
Funding scheme Project funding (Div. I-III)
Research institution Computational Systems Biology Department of Biosystems, D-BSSE ETH Zürich
Institution of higher education ETH Zurich - ETHZ
Main discipline Chemical Engineering
Start/End 01.05.2009 - 30.04.2012
Approved amount 385'320.00
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Keywords (6)

Integrated processes; biocatalysis; simulated moving bed; sugars; isomerases; isome-rases

Lay Summary (English)

Lead
Lay summary
Even though sugars are part of our everyday life, making them is a rather challenging task. A limited number of them can be efficiently extracted from natural sources, but set of sugars that we can actually make efficiently in a way different from that is rather limited. However, sugar molecules of various structures are becoming more and more and important in the pharmaceutical and food industry, as active ingredients or building blocks in drugs or low calorie sweeteners, to name only a few examples. We attempt to address this problem by biocatalysis. In other words, we use selective enzymes that can operate under mild reaction conditions to interconvert highly functionalized sugars. This can be most easily done by using enzymes such as isomerases and epimerases, which can operate without any cofactors. However, the reactions catalyzed by these types of enzymes are typically thermodynamically limited, meaning the reaction does not proceed to full conversion of the starting material. This makes this production route highly unattractive. In order to enable a complete conversion, we operate the catalyzed reaction continuously and couple it with a separation step online. The separation allows removing selectively the product and recycling the starting material, thus allowing the complete conversion. However, as starting material and product are physic-chemically very similar, the separation has to be particularly powerful. Chromatography is such a powerful technology. To allow continuous operation, the chromatography is applied in the form of a simulated moving bed (SMB), a system of multiple chromatography columns in which the controlled switching of valves allows to separate a mixed stream of substrates and products continuously. In this research project, we want to explore the scope of this concept for the manufacturing of so-called rare-sugars, for which currently no economical production routes exist. By combining biotechnological methods to find, produce, and improve the enzyme activities for catalysis, and reaction engineering methods to provide an optimal reactor and SMB setting, we provide a concept to potentially open entire classes of biocatalysts to the fine chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industry, all of which have strong roots in Europe and particularly in Switzerland.
Direct link to Lay Summary Last update: 21.02.2013

Responsible applicant and co-applicants

Employees

Publications

Publication
Highly efficient production of rare sugars D-psicose and L-tagatose by two engineered D-tagatose epimerases
Bosshart Andreas, Wagner Nina, Lei Lei, Panke Sven, Bechtold Matthias (2016), Highly efficient production of rare sugars D-psicose and L-tagatose by two engineered D-tagatose epimerases, in Biotechnology & Bioengineering, 113, 349-358.
A separation-integrated cascade reaction to overcome thermodynamic limitations in rare sugar formation
Wagner Nina, Bosshart Andreas, Failmezger Jurek, Bechtold Matthias, Panke Sven (2015), A separation-integrated cascade reaction to overcome thermodynamic limitations in rare sugar formation, in Angewandte Chemie - International Edition in English, 54, 4182-4186.
Directed divergent evolution of thermostable D-tagatose epimerase towards improved activity for two hexose substrates. 2015.
Bosshart Andreas, Hee C. S., Bechtold Matthias, Schirmer T., Panke Sven (2015), Directed divergent evolution of thermostable D-tagatose epimerase towards improved activity for two hexose substrates. 2015., in ChemBioChem, 16, 592-601.
Model-based cost optimization of a reaction-separation integrated process for the enzymatic production of the rare sugar D-psicose at elevated temperatures
Wagner Nina, Bosshart Andreas, Wahler Sonja, Failmezger Jurek, Panke Sven, Bechtold Matthias (2015), Model-based cost optimization of a reaction-separation integrated process for the enzymatic production of the rare sugar D-psicose at elevated temperatures, in Chemical Engineering Science, 137, 423-435.
Multi-objective optimization for an economic production of rare sugars using simulated moving bed chromatography
Wagner Nina, Håkansson Erik, Wahler Sonja, Panke Sven, Bechtold Matthias (2015), Multi-objective optimization for an economic production of rare sugars using simulated moving bed chromatography, in Journal of Chromatography A, 1398, 47-56.
Systematic optimization of interface interactions increases the thermostability of a multimeric enzyme
Bosshart Andreas, Panke Sven, Bechtold Matthias (2013), Systematic optimization of interface interactions increases the thermostability of a multimeric enzyme, in Angewandte Chemie - International Edition in English, 52, 9673-9676.
Practical Aspects of Integrated Operation of Biotransformation and SMB Separation for Fine Chemical Synthesis
Wagner N, Fuereder M, Bosshart A, Panke S, Bechtold M (2012), Practical Aspects of Integrated Operation of Biotransformation and SMB Separation for Fine Chemical Synthesis, in ORGANIC PROCESS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT, 16(2), 323-330.
Potential of process integration with adsorbers for the production of rare monosaccharides - a model-based study
Bechtold M, Fureder M, Wagner N, Panke S (2010), Potential of process integration with adsorbers for the production of rare monosaccharides - a model-based study, in CHEMIE INGENIEUR TECHNIK, 82(1-2), 65-75.
Model-based characterization of operational stability of multimeric enzymes with complex deactivation behavior: an in-silico investigation
Bechtold Matthias, Panke Sven, Model-based characterization of operational stability of multimeric enzymes with complex deactivation behavior: an in-silico investigation, in Chemical Engineering Science.
Reaction engineering of biotransformations
Bechtold Matthias, Panke Sven, Reaction engineering of biotransformations, in Comprehensive Chirality.

Scientific events

Active participation

Title Type of contribution Title of article or contribution Date Place Persons involved
European Society of Biochemical Engineering Sciences Meeting 2016 Talk given at a conference Integration of an equilibrium-limited cascade reaction and continuous chromatography for the production of a rare sugar 12.09.2016 Dublin, Ireland Panke Sven;
Biokat 2016 Talk given at a conference Integration of an equilibrium-limited cascade reaction and continuous chromatography for the production of a rare sugar 30.08.2016 Hamburg, Germany Panke Sven;
Biokatalsetag der ZHAW Wädenswil Talk given at a conference Integration of an equilibrium-limited cascade reaction and continuous chromatography for the production of a rare sugar 20.06.2016 Wädenswil, Switzerland Panke Sven;
Biotrans 2011 Talk given at a conference Integration of biotransformation and SMB separation for the high-yield production of fine chemicals 02.10.2011 Naxos, Italy Panke Sven;
Sustainable Chemistry Conference (i-sup) Talk given at a conference Integration of biotransformation and SMB separation for the high-yield production of fine chemicals 18.04.2010 Bruges, Belgium, Belgium Panke Sven;
PhD seminar Preparative Chromatography Talk given at a conference Simulated Moving Bed for the Separation of Rare Sugars 21.03.2010 Muggendorf, Germany, Germany Wagner Nina;


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