AIChE Journal, Vol.54, No.5, 1365-1376, 2008
Electrochemical microreactor for chiral syntheses using the cofactor NADH
An electrochemical filter-press microreactor has been designed by electroerosion to perform chiral enzymatic syntheses. Semicylindrical channels are created in the electrodes, only separated by a Nafion membrane. Electrochemical and hydrodynamic characterization of the microreactor allows operating conditions to be optimized. Continuous enzymatic regeneration of NADH was achieved using flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD/FADH(2)) as redox mediator. The high specific surface area of the cathode (250 cm(-1)) provides favorable conditions to increase the FADH(2)/FAD concentration ratio and shifts the nonspontaneous reaction FADH(2)/NAD(+) toward regeneration of NADH. Synthesis of chiral L-lactate from pyruvate, in the presence Of L-LDH, is the model reaction used to check the ability of the microreactor to regenerate NADH; the optimized device allows quantitative yields to be reached in NAD+ conversion and in L-lactate production. The simulation (FemLab software) results are in good agreement with the experimental mass balances for flow in the range 0.1-0.2 cm(3)/min.