Semicarbazide-functionalized resin as a new scavenger for in situ recovery of 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde during biotransformation of glycerol by Lactobacillus reuteri.

3-Hydroxypropionaldehyde (3HPA), a potential C3-platform chemical for a biobased industry, is produced from glycerol using Lactobacillus reuteri through its glycerol dehydratase activity. However, the process is characterized by low yield and productivity due to toxic effects of 3HPA on the biocatalyst activity. In this study, a semicarbazide-functionalized resin was prepared, evaluated for adsorption and in situ recovery of 3HPA during biotransformation of glycerol. Adsorption of 3HPA onto the resin was characterized as “S-curve model”, increasing with increasing initial 3HPA concentration, and reached a maximum of 9.48 mmol/g(resin) at 71.54 mM 3HPA used. Desorption of 3HPA was evaluated using water and different acids, and was enhanced by acetic acid with organic modifiers. Repeated adsorption–desorption of 3HPA in batch resulted in elution of 13–66.5% of the bound 3HPA during at least three sequential cycles using water and acetic acid, respectively as eluants. Using the resin for in situ product removal led to more than 2 times higher productivity of 3HPA.