Patent ID: 7749739

Claim:
A process for producing an amide compound from a nitrile compound comprising: contacting an aqueous medium of acrylonitrile or cyanopyridine with a suspension of microbial cells having nitrile hydratase activity of at least 50 U per mg of dry cell measured at a reaction temperature of 10° C. for a time and under conditions suitable for conversion of acrylonitrile or cyanopyridine into its corresponding amide compound, continuously adding the acrylonitrile or cyanopyridine to the aqueous medium, and obtaining a concentration of at least 20% of the amide compound in the aqueous medium; wherein said microbial cells having nitrile hydratase activity are at least one of Rhodococcus rhodochrous J1 (FERM BP-1478) and Pseudomonas chlororaphis B23 (FERM BP-187).