OLEOCHEMICALS BY BIOCHEMICAL REACTIONS

To obtain oleochemicals via biotransformation or fermentation requires not only appropriate biocatalysts but also good biochemical engineering. Up till now isolated enzymes are mostly used for hydrolytic reactions while entire microorganisms are also employed for oxidative reactions (especially oxidation of the fatty acid chain). Prejudices that enzymes are expensive, instable catalysts which only work in water and give low space-time-yield are no longer justified. Additional applications of biocatalysts can be expected, where their ability to react with high regio- or enantioselectivity will be exploited. In the literature the standard of biochemical engineering for oleochemicals is mostly rather poor. Kinetic data are incomplete or obtained from conditions not relevant for industrial practice. Product specific biocatalysts consumption especially as a function of conversion is hardly ever given. Mass balances are seldom closed. Bioreactor investigations are mostly performed on too small a scale. Some suggestions are made with respect to classical chemical engineering. Additional reactor concepts are introduced especially for the continuous use of biocatalysts.