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Abstract: This communication explores the use of seawater (1X) and concentrated seawater (2X and 4X) as reaction media for the enzyme-catalyzed depolymerization of cellulose. The commercially available Accellerase-1500® – a “cocktail” of different glycosidases – is able to depolymerize several amorphous celluloses and microcrystalline cellulose Avicel® in these reaction media, at slightly lower rates (ca. 90%) than those observed when reactions are performed in pure citrate buffer (control reactions). Remarkably, at concentrated seawater effluents enzymes also display significant rates of cellulose hydrolysis. Considering the expected increasing shortages in accessibility to fresh drinkable water, the herein-reported concept may provide novel inspiring leads for a smart use of resources in an environmentally-friendly and efficient manner, and for the genetic development of cellulases highly active and stable in concentrated seawater solutions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Ionic liquids (ILs) have been extensively assessed in biotransformations with different purposes, for example, non-conventional (co-)solvents, performance additives, coating agents for immobilizing/stabilizing enzymes, and IL-membrane-based processes. Fuelled by their premature labelling as ‘green solvents’, academic research has flourished. However, in recent years environmental aspects related to ILs have been strongly addressed, stating that many ILs commonly used cannot be regarded as ‘green derivatives’. Likewise, ILs costs are still a barrier for practical uses. Attempting to combine sustainability with the promising added-values of ILs, the third generation of ILs is currently under development. Likewise, deep-eutectic-solvents (DESs) appear in the horizon as an attractive and cost-effective option for using ionic solvents in biotransformations. DESs are often produced by gently warming and stirring two (bio-based and cheap) salts (e.g. choline chloride and urea). First successful uses of DES in biotransformations were reported recently. It may be expected that knowledge accumulated in (second generation) ILs and biotransformations could be turned into real applications by using these DESs, and third generation ILs, in the coming years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Lipase-catalyzed esterifications in biphasic media (heptane–water, 1:1) were conducted by using Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase (TLL) as biocatalyst. Different carboxylic acids (from acetic to lauric) were thus esterified with 1-butanol at different pH values (2–10). For all carboxylic acids tested, pH optima for the enzymatic esterifications were ca. 3–5, in clear agreement with previous literature, and quite different from optima pH of TLL in hydrolytic reactions (8–11). Interestingly, the interval of pH in which TLL was active in esterifications, varied markedly depending on the carboxylic acid. Thus, for long-chain acids (i.e. lauric), such pH interval was much wider than for short-chain carboxylic acids (i.e. acetic). To understand this effect, simple pK a values of carboxylic acids, retrieved from open literature, are not sufficient, since those values are measured in pure water. When a second phase is added, aspects related to partition coefficient of each carboxylic acid need to be considered as well, thus leading to the apparent pK a concept. Herein we performed theoretical calculations to obtain such app pK a of each carboxylic acid. When such calculations were compared with the pH interval, a clear correlation was observed. Overall, results confirm that lipases accept only the protonated form of the carboxylic acid (R–COOH) during esterifications in biphasic media. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The use of oxidoreductases as biocatalysts for the production of a wide number of chiral building blocks is presently a mature (bio-)technology. In this context some industrial applications are currently performed by means of those enzymatic approaches, and new examples are expected to be realized. Moreover, oxidoreductases provide an interesting academic platform to undertake fundamental research in enzymology, to acquire a better understanding on catalytic mechanisms, and to facilitate the development of new biocatalytic applications. Within this area, a wide number of oxidoreductases from genus Candida spp. have been characterized and used as biocatalysts. These enzymes are rather diverse, and are able to carry out many useful reactions, like highly (enantio)selective keto-reductions, (de)racemizations and stereoinversions, and promiscuous catalytic imine reductions. In addition, some Candida spp. dehydrogenases are very useful for regenerating the cofactors, with the aid of sacrificial substrates. Addressing those features, the present paper aims to give an overview of these enzymes, by focusing on practical applications that these biocatalysts can provide. Furthermore, when possible, academic insights on the enzymatic performances will be discussed as well. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In recent years, the Carica papaya lipase (CPL) is attracting more and more interest. This hydrolase, being tightly bonded to the water-insoluble fraction of crude papain, is thus considered as a “naturally immobilized” biocatalyst. To date, several CPL applications have already been described: (i) fats and oils modification, derived from the sn-3 selectivity of CPL as well as from its preference for short-chain fatty acids; (ii) esterification and inter-esterification reactions in organic media, accepting a wide range of acids and alcohols as substrates; (iii) more recently, the asymmetric resolution of different non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), 2-(chlorophenoxy)propionic acids, and non-natural amino acids. Taking into account the novelty and the current interest of the topic, this review aims to highlight the origin, features, and applications of the C. papaya lipase, with the objective to prompt research groups to further investigate the spectra of applications that this emerging and versatile CPL could have in the future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) is one of the enzymes most frequently used in biotransformations. However, there are some irreproducibility problems inherent to this biocatalyst, attributed either to differences in lipase loading and isoenzymatic profile or to other medium-engineering effects (temperature, a w, choice of solvent, etc.). In addition, some other properties (influence of substrate and reaction conditions on the lid movement, differences in the glycosylation degree, post-translational modifications) should not be ruled out. In the present paper the recent developments published in the CRL field are overviewed, focusing on: (a) comparison of structural and biochemical data among isoenzymes (Lip1–Lip5), and their influence in the biocatalytical performance; (b) developments in fermentation technology to achieve new crude C. rugosa lipases; (c) biocatalytical reactivity of each isoenzyme, and methods for characterising them in crude CRL; (d) state-of-the-art of new applications performed with recombinant CRLs, both in CRL-second generation (wild-type recombinant enzymes), as well as in CRL-third generation, (mutants of the wt-CRL). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights • Low viscous DES-water blends can be used in continuous processes for biocatalysis. • The pH control increases the conversion, using DES in a fed-batch reactor. • Fed-batch reactor reached the highest concentration of product 33 g/L. • The semicontinuous and continuous bioreactors reached similar productivities. • Biocatalyst stability was high in a packed-bed reactor, without loss for 10 days. Abstract This work explores for the first time the use of Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES) with phosphate buffer 100 mM pH 7 as cosolvent (10% v/v) in biocatalytic reactions in fed-batch and packed-bed bioreactors. The lipase-catalyzed esterification of glycerol and benzoic acid is studied, as it involves two substrates with different polarities (for which DES are needed). In the fed-batch bioreactor, the highest conversion (90%) was obtained at a substrate flow rate of 0.01 mL/min. The fed-batch operation increased the conversion by 59% compared to the batch mode. Regarding productivity, semi-continuous and continuous bioreactors showed analogous results. Upon recirculation of the reaction media in the continuous bioreactor, a conversion of 67% was achieved in 7 cycles of operation. The stability of the biocatalyst in the packed-bed bioreactor decreased only 2% in 10 days, demonstrating the attractiveness that low viscous DES-water mixtures with continuous processes may have. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Chitosan-aerogels catalyze biodiesel-type transesterifications. [•] Chitosan is presently a waste that can be valorized. [•] Other polysaccharides (e.g. alginic acid) may be used as catalysts as well. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Deep-Eutectic-Solvents (DES) were assessed for the separation of alcohol–ester mixtures, for example those typically obtained from catalytic kinetic resolutions of racemic alcohols. DES can efficiently dissolve molecules containing hydrogen-bond-donors (alcohols), whereas esters remain as second phase. By using this concept, tedious separation chromatographic steps may be easily overcome with bio-based non-hazardous solvents. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Silica-supported piperazine was found to be an efficient catalyst for aldol reactions of aromatic aldehydes and ketones with straightforward product isolation and catalyst reuse. Furthermore, the catalyst is active in Knoevenagel-type reactions to afford coumarin derivatives, using 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (2-MeTHF) as a novel bio-based solvent. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A successful biorefinery needs to align suitable pretreatment with sustainable production of biomasses. Herein, four perennial plants, (Sida, Silphium, Miscanthus and Szarvasi) regarded as promising feedstocks for biorefineries were subjected to the OrganoCat pretreatment. The technology was successfully applied to the different perennial plants revealing that pretreatment of grasses was more efficient than of non-grasses. Thorough analyses of the lignocellulose – before and after fractionation – enabled a detailed description of the fate of cellulosic, non-cellulosic polysaccharides and lignin during the pretreatment. Especially Szarvasi pulp displayed outstanding results in terms of fractionation efficiency and enzymatic digestibility, though in all cases successful lignocellulose fractionation was observed. These insights into the structural composition of different perennial plant species and the impact of the OrganoCat pretreatment on the plant material leads to useful information to strategically adapt such processes to the individual lignocellulosic material aiming for a full valorisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Organocatalysis is assessed for the first time in the synthesis of purine and pyrimidine acyclic nucleosides providing high yields and straightforward work-up procedures. Nucleobases containing aldehydes are catalytically ligated (C–C bond formation) to acetone or to phosphonate-containing ketones by means of pyrrolidine or silica-immobilized piperazine as amine-based organocatalysts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]