A new method to prepare amides by bioconversion of corresponding nitriles

Amides of very good chemical quality have been obtained by the bioconversion of the corresponding nitriles using immobilized bacteria with nitrilase activity (nitrile hydratase). The bioreactor was polyvalent since the nitrilase used had a generalized activity and could hydrolyse a large number of nitriles. The present paper shows the polyvalence and simplicity of the process, and the quality of the amides obtained.