Using isopropanol as the hydrogen donor to achieve by-product-free biological hydrogenation in water with carbonyl reductase

Abstract

In this study, the reaction equilibrium was broken using isopropanol as a co-substrate, which was different from previous glucose as a co-substrate for furfural reduction, solving the problems of many by-products, low selectivity, and the addition of sodium phosphate buffers. The volatility of isopropanol and acetone prevented the production of by-products to the reaction system, improving the conversion and selectivity. 10 g/L furfural could be converted into furfuryl alcohol in pure water, and the furfural conversion was 90%, furfuryl alcohol selectivity was 100%, and the concentration of furfuryl alcohol could reach more than 20 g/L through accumulation reaction. No by-products were produced in this reaction system, and a single furfuryl alcohol product was obtained in the water catalytic system, which was convenient for downstream separation and purification. At the same time, based on the theory of the NADH coenzyme cycle system, this catalytic method could complete the conversion of various aldehydes into the corresponding alcohols, and it could be expanded to various biological hydrogenation projects, which has important industrial development and production prospects.