METHOD FOR PREPARING 2-HYDROXY 4-METHYLTHIO BUTYRIC ACID USING A NITRILASE

摘要

The invention concerns a method for preparing 2-hydroxy 4-methylthio butyric acid and/or the ammonium salt of 2-hydroxy 4-methylthio butyric acid by enzymatic hydrolysis of 2-hydroxy 4-methythio butyronitrile characterised in that: a) in a first step a biological material having nitrilase activity is prepared, b) in a second step it is immobilised, c) in a third step, 2-hydroxy 4-methylthio butyronitrile is brought in the presence of the immobilised biological material, for obtaining the ammonium salt of 2-hydroxy 4-methylthio butyric acid, d) in a fourth step, optionally, the salt obtained in step c) is transformed into the corresponding acid, and e) in a fifth step, the product resulting from step c) or d) is concentrated.