Peroxyacetic acid synthesis was carried out in a biphasic system stabilized by silica nanoparticles. The nanoparticles provided a protective environment for the enzymes against the detrimental effect of the oxidant and acetic acid. Increased hydrophobicity of the particles (50–25 % SiOH) increased yields by more than 30 %.

Abstract

Due to the need for environmental protection and sustainability, there has been a rising need to replace the traditionally harsh oxidative functionalization process, which is essential for syntheses of various organic compounds, by biocatalysis. However, the investigated alternative processes are still challenged with enzyme instability and/or low specific reaction rate. Due to these still existing challenges and the recognition of Pickering emulsions as an efficient platform for continuous biphasic biocatalysis, the first, enzymatic step of the lipase catalyzed oxidative functionalization was investigated in bioactive Pickering emulsions. The study focused on the impact of Pickering emulsion composition such as the volume phase fraction, type and concentration of the nanoparticles and enzymes on continuous peroxyacetic acids synthesis. The type of nanoparticles used and Candida antarctica lipase B concentration significantly impacted the process while the other named parameters only had a marginal influence.