Catalysis

Improved synthesis of Prevymis™, a prescription medicine that helps prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease in adults who have received bone marrow transplants. This antiviral drug uses an improved chemical catalyst, increases the overall yield by 60%, reduces the PMI by 73%, reduces raw material costs by 93%, and reduces water usage by 90%. Merk claims this synthesis will result in the elimination of over 15,000 MT of waste over its lifetime. It should also decrease the product's carbon footprint and water usage by 89% and 90%, respectively.

Solid catalyst alkylation process for the production of alkylate. Alkylate is a clean fuel component of gasoline. Traditional production methods use toxic liquid acid technologies that require post-treatment. Using the Alkystar catalyst, AlkyClean is a more efficeint alkylate production process that increases reaction speed and reduces environmental hazards by eliminating the need for liquid acids.

Highly magnetic materials for enzyme immobilization. Enzyme immobilization can improve enzyme stability and enable enzyme recycling. This company uses a highly magnetic matrix that protects the enzymes from degradation and denaturation, allowing them to function in more extreme temperatures and pHs. The immobilized enzymes are also optimized to reach full activity and high loadings. The magnetic matrix allows the enzymes to easily and quickly recover with a simple magnet. This technology allows for cost-effective, industrial biocatalysis with better activity, results, and productivity.

Custom-designed industrial enzymes. Zymvol® designs custom enzymes for applications in pharmaceutical, chemical, and biotech industries using Zymvol® Biomodeling SL. Zymvol® Biomodeling SL uses cloud-based computer simulations to improve the performance of enzymes to meet precise industrial requirements. Silico evolution technology is used to accelerate protein optimization and reduce costs. Tailoring enzymes through simulations reduces reagent waste. Biocatalysts also contribute to efficient resource use of energy, water, and manufacturing inputs as well as reduce gas emissions.

First-generation surface display technology for better performing enzymes. This technology allows enzymes to be displayed on the outer membrane of bacteria, generating faster results in the screening of binding partners, inhibitors, and optimized enzymes. This technology makes the purification of enzymes simpler and cheaper as it only requires centrifugation and filtration. 

Bioprocesses for chemical manufacturing. The Biochemize (P2B) technological platform is a more profitable, non-hazardous, and low-waste alternative to synthetic chemical manufacturing processes. Bioprocesses are highly selective and efficient. Enzymes used in bioprocesses are efficient and can be reused several times, reducing waste. Bioprocesses also reduce energy usage by enabling reactions to occur in mild or moderate conditions. Reagents and reaction conditions in bioprocessing are also less dangerous.

One-step, environmentally friendly process for the synthesis of solid oxide catalysts. The conventional production of catalysts requires acid-base precipitation with a metal nitrate, producing large volumes of nitrate and halogenated waste and emitting NOx and SOx gases. The extraction of nitrate and other salts generates large volumes of wastewater. This novel synthetic process eliminates aqueous and nitrate waste by using an organic acid, a pure metal, and an oxidizing agent that is usually air.

Enzymatic interesterification for producing edible fats and oils that contain no trans fatty acids. Archer Daniels Midland Company and Novozymes have created enzymatic interesterification to replace chemical interestification processes. Trans fatty acids are a strong risk factor for heart disease. Trans fatty acids are formed during the hydrogenation process and are found in high concentrations in various foods. Interesterification is the most effective way to decrease trans fat content in food without adversely manipulating it.

A high-throughput cloning approach that will decrease the time taken to research and develop biocatalysts. GRASP™ and meta-GRASP™ allow high throughput genome-mining to produce new and highly diverse planes of enzymes for biocatalysis. With this technology, they have designed a Biocatalysis Enzyme Toolkit. 

Immobilization matrix for the immobilization of enzymes. Biocatalysts allow reactions with milder and safer conditions, high regioselectivity, and enantioselectivity. Enzyme immobilizations enable the recycling of enzymes, increase process efficiency, and reduce enzyme-removal steps. It also increases selectivity, stability, and activity and restricts enzyme movements, protecting the biocatalysts from harsh conditions. This product immobilizes enzymes on the surface without losing activity, facilitating the purification of the catalyst.