PREPARATION OF GLYOXYLIC ACID BY OXIDIZING GLYCOLLIC ACID IN THE PRESENCE OF IMMOBILIZED GLYCOLATE OXIDASE AND CATALASE

摘要

A process for the production of glyoxylic acid by reacting glycolic acid with oxygen in an aqueous solution in the presence of an amine buffer capable of forming a chemical adduct with glyoxylic acid, and glycolate oxidase and catalase immobilized or co-immobilized on an insoluble support is disclosed. The reaction is carried out at a pH of 7 to 10, preferably 8 to 9.5, an initial concentration of glycolic acid of 200 to 2500 mM, a concentration of amine wherein the initial mole ratio of amine to glycolic acid is within the range of 1.0 to 3.0, a concentation of immobilized catalase of 50 to 100,000 IU/mL, preferably 350 to 14,000 IU/mL, an oxygen pressure of up to 50 atmospheres, preferably 15 atmospheres, an immobilized glycolate oxidase concentration of about 0.01 to 10 IU/mL, preferably about 0.1 to 4 IU/mL, and a temperature of 0 C to 40 C preferably 5 C to 15 C. Preferred insoluble immobilization supports are Eupergit C-250L and Eupergit C (Oxirane acrylic beads).