Immobilized‐enzyme continuous‐flow reactor incorporating continuous electrochemical regeneration of NAD

Abstract

Abstract Electrochemical regeneration of the cofactor nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) from its reduced form (NADH) has been coupled with the alcoholdehydrogenation reaction which consumes NAD and produces NADU using alcohol dehydrogenase bound to alumina. Alcohol (reactant) is added directly to the system while aldehyde (product) leaves the system through an ultrafiltration membrane which prevents loss of the cofactor. This system provides a continuous‐flow process for carrying out a cofactor‐requiring enzymatic reaction with no net loss or consumption of enzyme or cofactor and without the use of reagents for regenerating the cofactor. Although the process shown here is not economically practical, it may be a harbinger of useful and technically feasible chemical reaction systems based on immobilized enzymes requiring cofactors.