Development of Ionic Liquid-Water-Based Thermomorphic Solvent (TMS)-Systems for Biocatalytic Reactions

Abstract

The applicability of ionic liquid-water-based thermomorphic solvent (TMS)-systems with an upper critical solution temperature for homogeneous biocatalysis is investigated. Cholinium- and imidazolium-based ionic liquids are used to facilitate a temperature-dependent phase change, which can be easily fine-tuned by adding salts or polar organic solvents. Within the TMS-system, a high enzymatic activity and subsequent full conversion is achieved in the intermittent monophasic reaction system of the TMS-system. Therefore, the biocatalyst can be easily recycled after separating the phases at lower temperatures.

Keywords: enzymes; ionic liquids; lipases; recycling; thermomorphic solvent (TMS)-systems; two-phase system.