Developments in nitrile and amide biotransformation processes

Nitrile and amide bioconversions have received attention through their ability to provide a range of commercially important chemicals. These bioconversions are mediated by distinct process strategies. Here, the processes performance is discussed, and the use of whole cells, cell extracts and enzymes as biocatalysts is compared. Additionally, the benefits of biocatalyst reuse through immobilization have been identified and immobilization matrices utilized for these bioconversions evaluated. Exploitation and commercial development will depend on optimization of the process performance and the capacity for scale-up in addition to the biocatalytic potential. High substrate concentrations and biocatalyst stability and reuse through immobilization strategies provide driving forces towards more efficient process kinetics. Membrane immobilization is specifically highlighted as a route to maximize process performance.