PRODUCTION OF TOLUENE CIS-GLYCOL BY A RECOMBINANT ESCHERICHIA-COLI STRAIN IN A 2-LIQUID PHASE CULTURE SYSTEM

The recombinant Escherichia coli strain, TG2 (p1/1), can bd used for b iotransformation of toluene to toluene cis-glycol. However, toluene ca used substantial inhibition of both growth and toluene cis-glycol prod uction at concentrations above 0.04%. Tetradecane was found to be non- toxic at a phase ratio of 0.23 and provided protection against toluene toxicity. Thus, growth was still possible in the presence of 1.5% tol uene. Furthermore, the yield of toluene cis-glycol was increased 1.7-f old compared with the yield in the absence of tetradecane.