Means and methods for manufacturing racemic alanine for the mgda synthesis

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of chemical manufacture. In particular, it relates to a method for manufacturing racemic methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA) comprising the steps of contacting a solution comprising or being enriched in D-alanine or L-alanine to an alanine racemase at a temperature of at least 50° C. and alkaline conditions for a time sufficient to allow conversion of said solution into a racemic alanine solution, obtaining a racemic alanine solution, and chemically converting the racemic alanine into racemic MGDA. The invention further contemplates an alanine racemase which is capable of converting a solution comprising or being enriched in D-alanine or L-alanine into racemic alanine solution at a temperature of at least 50° C. and under alkaline conditions as well as the use of said alanine racemase for converting a solution comprising or being enriched in D-alanine or L-alanine into racemic alanine solution at a temperature of at least 50° C. and under alkaline conditions.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.