Divanillin synthesis from vanillin by horseradish peroxidase in consideration of mathematical model and morphology of product

Vanillin is one of the monomers originated from lignin. We have synthesized divanillin from vanillin as a precipitate using the enzymatic reaction of horseradish peroxidase (HRP), to examine the effects of the concentration of HRP and of the reaction medium on the reactivity of the substrate and the morphology of the product, divanillin. Mathematical modeling was used to analyze the effects of solvent-induced enzyme inactivation and substrate reactivity on substrate concentration. The amount of HRP on the reaction influenced the inactivation due to the reaction media. It was quantitatively shown that changing the concentration of methanol in the reaction medium increased the solvation to the substrate vanillin and increased the contact efficiency with HRP. SEM observation of the precipitates revealed that they were spherical and needle-like and varied with the reaction conditions. Divanillin is a substance with potential for subsequent effective utilization of biomass, and this research will lead to future applications of novel materials. • Divanillin was synthesized from vanillin as a precipitate by horseradish peroxidase. • Mathematical modeling was used to analyze the reaction. • Obtained precipitates had the spherical and needle-like morphology.