Enzymes are proteins that can be harnessed for chemical manufacturing, but they are typically restricted to mild temperatures because proteins unfold and lose their function under heat. In new research published in Angewandte Chemie Novit , investigators found that a porous organic polymer can be used to encapsulate a lipase (a type of enzyme) and create a protective molecular cage that prevents enzyme denaturation, enabling efficient and recyclable reactions with high-melting solids at and above 100°C.
This work extends the operational boundaries of enzymatic reactions beyond the boiling point of water, with far-reaching implications for sustainable chemical manufacturing.
"The direct use of substrates in molten form when being heated above 100°C combined with recyclability of the biocatalyst enables an efficient, waste-minimized and economical synthesis without the need for any organic solvent," said corresponding author Dr. Harald Gröger of Bielefeld University in Germany. "The resulting ester products are of interest for many industrial segments, for example in the field of cosmetics."
URL upon publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anov.70023
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