Biphasic Biocatalysis using a CO2-Switchable Pickering Emulsion

Biphasic biocatalyses such as the hydrolysis of olive oil and the esterification of octanol with oleic acid were performed in a CO2/N2-switchable Pickering oil-in-water emulsion stabilized by silica nanoparticles hydrophobized in situ by a CO2/N2-switchable surfactant (N,N-dimethyldodecylamine). Compared with biphasic systems, the enzyme in the Pickering emulsions displays a higher reaction efficiency, and demulsification and recycling of the enzyme can be simply realized by bubbling with N2/CO2. Moreover, the recycled enzyme still possesses significant catalytic activity.