Sustainable high efficiency biocatalytic hydrogenation

Published: 22-Oct-2021

University of Oxford spin-out HydRegen is developing novel and sustainable strategies for using the growing toolbox of NADH-dependent redox biocatalysts in chemical synthesis

UK-based HydRegen is using a DrySyn OCTO reaction station from Asynt to help develop a biocatalyst system for cleaner, safer, and more efficient chemical manufacture.

University of Oxford spin-out HydRegen is developing novel and sustainable strategies for using the growing toolbox of NADH-dependent redox biocatalysts in chemical synthesis. Its system allows chemical manufacturing to harness the precision of biology with the efficiency of catalytic hydrogenation, allowing users to replace heavy metal catalysts for highly selective hydrogenation reactions or decarbonise existing redox biocatalysis processes, while operating within existing continuous flow hydrogenation reactors.

Dr Sarah Cleary, CSO at HydRegen said: "We invested in a DrySyn OCTO because I had previously used the system and loved how it gave me the ability to simultaneously screen eight separate reaction variations under a controlled atmosphere, temperature, and means of agitation, thus advancing the process of biocatalyst development in a reproducible fashion. The DrySyn OCTO installed at HydRegen has been an incredibly useful tool for us. Because we’re using enzymes and don’t need pressurised hydrogen, the OCTO is perfect for screening catalysts and reaction parameters.”

"Because we didn’t want to use hydrogen cylinders in our lab, for various safety reasons, being able to hook up our DrySyn OCTO to a benchtop hydrogen generator also supplied by Asynt was very convenient."

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