Biocatalytic production of phenolic resins with ramped peroxide addition

Abstract

A process for preparing a phenolic resin which comprises preparing a reaction medium containing a phenol and a peroxidase enzyme and adding a solution of a peroxide to said medium, said peroxide being added to said medium at a rate which decreases from an initial rate of about 2 to 3 millimolar/min as the amount of phenol in said medium decreases such that the concentration of peroxide does not exceed about 12 millimolar.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for preparing a phenolic resin which comprises preparing a reaction medium containing a phenol and a peroxidase enzyme and adding a solution of a peroxide to said medium, said peroxide being added to said medium at a rate which decreases from an initial rate .[.of about 2 to 3 millimolar/min.]. as the amount of phenol in said medium decreases such that the concentration of peroxide .Iadd.in said medium .Iaddend.does not exceed about 12 millimolar. 
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1 wherein said medium is a mixture of water and an organic solvent. 
     
     
       3. The process of claim 2 wherein said organic solvent is a water-miscible solvent. 
     
     
       4. The process of claim 2 wherein said peroxidase is horseradish peroxidase or soybean peroxidase. 
     
     
       5. The process of claim 4 wherein said phenol is present in said medium in a concentration of 1 to 100 g/100 ml 
     
     
       6. The process of claim 5 wherein said rate decreases such that the concentration of peroxide in said reaction medium does not exceed about 3 to 12 millimolar.