Optimization of Process for Optical Resolution of dl-Pantolactone Using Immobilized d-Lactonohydrolase

d-pantolactone is an important intermediate for the production of pantothenic acid, panthenol, and calcium d-pantothenate. It is an efficient method to obtain d-pantolactone by optical resolution of dl-pantolactone using d-lactonohydrolase. In order to improve the hydrolysis rate of dl-pantolactone using immobilized d-lactonohydrolase which showed excellent pH and temperature stability, the process for optical resolution of dl-pantolactone using immobilized d-lactonohydrolase was investigated by optimization of hydrolysis condition. The results showed that the optimum process for optical resolution of dl-pantolactone was: temperature 40°C, pH7.0, substrate concentration 20%, hydrolysis time 8 h. Under the optimum condition, the hydrolysis rate of dl-pantolactone reached 36.8%, and the hydrolysis rate still remained at 85.6% of the original hydrolysis rate after 20 batches of reuse, indicating that immobilized d-lactonohydrolase had excellent operational stability.