Production of Acrylic Acid from Acrylonitrile by Immobilization of Arthrobacter nitroguajacolicus ZJUTB06-99

Immobilized cells of Arthrobacter nitroguajacolicus ZJUTB06-99 capable of producing nitrilase were used for biotransformation of acrylonitrile to acrylic acid. Six different entrapment matrixes were chosen to search for a suitable support in terms of nitrilase activity. Ca-alginate proved to be more advantageous over other counterparts in improvement of the biocatalyst activity and bead mechanical strength. The effects of sodium alginate concentration, CaCl2 concentration, bead diameter, and ratio by weight of cells to alginate, on biosynthesis of acrylic acid by immobilized cells were investigated. Maximum activity was obtained under the conditions of 1.5% sodium alginate concentration, 3.0%. CaCl2 concentration, and 2-mm bead size. The beads coated with 0.10% polyethylenimine (PEI) and 0.75% glutaraldehyde (GA) could tolerate more phosphate and decrease leakage amounts of cells from the gel. The beads treated with PEI/GA could be reused up to 20 batches without obvious decrease in activities, which increased about 100% compared with the untreated beads with a longevity of 11 batches.