GB1352860A - Process for racemizing alpha-amino-epsilon-caprolactam and the hydrolysis thereof to l-lysine - Google Patents

Abstract

1352860 Racemization of α-amino-#-caprolaciam and its hydrolysis to L-lysine TORAY INDUSTRIES Inc 22 Dec 1971 [23 Dec 1970 26 Dec 1970 (2)] 59842/71 Heading C2C α-Amino-#-caprolactam is racemized by treatment with an Achromobacter, Flavobacterium or Alcaligenes micro-organism or with a racemizing agent derived from any of these microorganisms. The amino-lactam may be treated with a growing culture, a culture broth, living cells, treated cells or a cell extract of any of the micro-organisms. Species of micro-organisms specified are Achromobacter cycloclastes, Achromobacter obae, Flavobacterium arborescens, and Alcaligenes faecalis. The aminolactam may be subjected to a selective hydrolysis treatment so as to obtain L-lysine either simultaneously with or subsequent to the racemization treatment. The selective hydrolysis treatment may be effected by a Cryptococcus, Candida or Trichosporon micro-organism or a hydrolysing agent derived therefrom, and the hydrolysing agent may be applied in the form of growing cells, a culture broth, an intact cell suspension, treated cells such as lyophilized cells and acetone-dried cells, a cell extract or an enzyme "L-aminolactam amido hydrolase"; species of hydrolysing micro-organisms specified are Cryptococcus laurentii, Candida humicola, and Trichosporon cutaneum. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 1,334,970.