Enzymatic Peracid Formulation With Low-LogP Cosolvent Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multi-component enzymatic peroxycarboxylic acid generation systems face issues with storage stability and mixing efficiency due to insoluble carboxylic acid ester substrates, which affect the production and delivery of peroxycarboxylic acid, and the use of organic cosolvents can be detrimental to enzyme activity.

Innovation Solution

A multi-component formulation comprising a CE-7 enzyme catalyst with specific amino acid motifs, a carboxylic acid ester substrate, and a cosolvent with a log P value of less than 2, combined with hydrogen peroxide and a stabilizer, to enhance storage stability and mixing characteristics, allowing for efficient production of peroxycarboxylic acid.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If carboxylic acid ester substrates are used in multi-component enzymatic peroxycarboxylic acid generation systems, then peroxycarboxylic acid production is enabled, but storage stability and mixing efficiency deteriorate due to substrate insolubility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperoxycarboxylic acid productionVSAvoidstorage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The carboxylic acid ester substrate is pre-dissolved in a cosolvent to create a stable, homogeneous solution before use. This preliminary dissolution action prevents insolubility issues during storage and mixing, allowing the substrate to remain stable in the multi-component system while maintaining readiness for peroxycarboxylic acid production

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A cosolvent is introduced as an intermediary substance between the carboxylic acid ester substrate and water. This cosolvent mediates the solubility issue by dissolving the hydrophobic ester substrate, enabling it to mix properly with aqueous components while maintaining substrate availability for enzymatic conversion to peroxycarboxylic acid

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If carboxylic acid ester substrates are used, then peroxycarboxylic acid can be produced, but mixing efficiency deteriorates due to high viscosity from insoluble substrates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperoxycarboxylic acid productionVSAvoidmixing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The substrate is pre-dissolved in the cosolvent to create a homogeneous solution before mixing with other components. This preliminary dissolution eliminates viscosity problems that would otherwise occur during mixing, ensuring easy and efficient mixing of all components without aggregation or phase separation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cosolvent acts as a mediator that reduces the viscosity and improves the flow characteristics of the substrate-containing component. By dissolving the carboxylic acid ester in the cosolvent, the mixture becomes more fluid and easier to mix with aqueous hydrogen peroxide and enzyme solutions, thereby improving overall mixing efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If organic cosolvents are used to improve substrate solubility, then mixing efficiency improves, but enzyme activity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemixing efficiencyVSAvoidenzyme activity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The log P value parameter of the cosolvent is specifically controlled to be less than 2. This parameter change identifies cosolvents with appropriate polarity that can dissolve carboxylic acid esters without being too hydrophobic to harm enzyme activity. By selecting cosolvents within this specific parameter range, both mixing efficiency and enzyme reliability are optimized

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The cosolvent creates a local microenvironment around the enzyme and substrate that facilitates solubility and mixing while maintaining conditions suitable for enzyme activity. The cosolvent concentrates in regions where substrate dissolution is needed, allowing the enzyme to function in a mostly aqueous environment where it remains stable and active

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The formulation improves storage stability and mixing efficiency, enabling the rapid production of efficacious peroxycarboxylic acid concentrations suitable for disinfection, bleaching, and sanitization applications without significant loss of enzyme activity.

Implementation Method 1

enzymes structurally classified as members of the CE-7 family of carbohydrate esterases (i.e., cephalosporin C deacetylases [CAHs] and acetyl xylan esterases [AXEs]) that are characterized by significant perhydrolysis activity for converting carboxylic acid esters (in the presence of a suitable source of peroxygen, such as hydrogen peroxide) into peroxycarboxylic acids

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPerhydrolysis: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

A multi-component formulation comprising a CE-7 enzyme catalyst with specific amino acid motifs, a carboxylic acid ester substrate, and a cosolvent with a log P value of less than 2, combined with hydrogen peroxide and a stabilizer, to enhance storage stability and mixing characteristics

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Implementation Method 3

Peroxycarboxylic acids can be prepared by the chemical reaction of a carboxylic acid and hydrogen peroxide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 4

A multi-component formulation comprising a CE-7 enzyme catalyst with specific amino acid motifs, a carboxylic acid ester substrate, and a cosolvent with a log P value of less than 2, combined with hydrogen peroxide and a stabilizer, to enhance storage stability

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStabilization: Preservative

Data Source

PatentEP2342328B1Enzymatic peracid generation formulation
Publication Date: 2016.04.20 EI DU PONT DE NEMOURS & CO
  • EP2342328B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP2342328B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP2342328B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b

AI summary

Disclosed herein are multi-component formulations for enzymatically producing aqueous solutions of peroxycarboxylic acids suitable for use in, e.g., disinfectant and/or bleaching applications. The multi-component peroxycarboxylic acid formulations comprise at least one carbohydrate esterase family 7 enzyme having perhydrolytic activity in powder form, an excipient, a buffer and a cosolvent, and hydrogen peroxide.