Accelerated Reaction Engineering of Photo(bio)catalytic Reactions through Parallelization with an Open-Source Photoreactor

Photobiocatalysis is an alternative approach in synthesis that has received much attention in the recent years. Due to the youth of the topic, only few reactor systems are commercially available. To allow a parallel parameter-screening approach as often used in the optimization of biocatalytic processes, a photoreactor was developed that can illuminate up to 24 samples at well-defined reaction conditions. The device's optical features and temperature regulation have been thoroughly characterized and its application was demonstrated in four examples, specifically three photobiocatalytic and one photocatalytic process: (i) Light-dependent decarboxylation using a photodecarboxylase; (ii) Reduction of protochlorophyllide using a protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase; (iii) Photosynthetic oxygen production performed by cyanobacteria; and (iv) (-)-Riboflavin-catalyzed (E/Z)-isomerization of cinnamic acid derivatives.

Automated summary

Photobiocatalysis is an emerging synthesis approach that is gaining attention, with only a few commercially available reactor systems due to its youth. A newly developed photoreactor allows parallel parameter screening for optimization, demonstrated in applications such as light-dependent decarboxylation and photosynthetic oxygen production.