Understanding the interaction between enzymes, ionic liquids and water

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Udo Kragl
• Subject Area: Biological Process Engineering
• Term: from 2006 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 29263522

Biocatalysts, namely enzymes are active in the presence of ionic liquids. However, there is still a lack of understanding how some of the effects observed such as improved substrate solubility or improved enzyme stability can be explained. The goals of this project is described by four topics, which are closely related to each other. The first is the investigation and understanding of the aggregate formation of ionic liquids depending on the type and concentration of solvents or solutes used. The second is to gain insight in the interaction of ionic liquids with proteins in order to understand the requirements to obtain dissolved enzymes active under these conditions. For the complete picture the interaction of ionic liquids with water and enzyme substrates or products has to be understood to explain fully distribution coefficients, mass transport or solubility. Finally the understanding can be used to design a system for an enzymatic gas or solution phase reaction using supported ionic liquids.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1191: Ionic Liquids