Patent ID: 6551804
Filing Date: 2003-04-22
Classification: C12N,C12P,Y02P

Abstract:
A method for producing a carboxylic acid comprising:a) immobilizing in alginate whole or permeabilized microbial cells having nitrilase activity; b) adding, to the immobilized whole or permeabilized microbial cells of step a), a first stabilizer and then a second stabilizer, each in an amount and for a time sufficient to crosslink the immobilized enzyme catalyst, the first stabilizer and the second stabilizer each selected from the group consisting of glutaraldehyde and polyethylenimine, provided the second stabilizer is other than the first stabilizer; c) contacting the product of step b) with a nitrile in a suitable aqueous reaction mixture having a NH4+:Ca2+ ratio greater than 20:1 during the course of the reaction; d) isolating the carboxylic acid produced in step c) in the form of a salt or an acid; and e) optionally repeating steps c) and d).