L. Dufosse et al., In situ detoxification of the fermentation medium during gamma-decalactoneproduction with the yeast Sporidiobolus salmonicolor, BIOTECH PR, 15(1), 1999, pp. 135-139
gamma-Decalactone (gamma-C-10) is known to be highly toxic for the microorg
anims used for its production. In this work, three techniques were studied
in order to overcome this toxicity during a bioconversion process using ric
inoleic acid as precursor of the lactone: in situ trapping in oily phases,
in porous hydrophobic sorbents and in beta-cyclodextrins. Oily phases added
to the media (olive, Miglyol, tributyrin, and paraffin) had a protective e
ffect on Sp. salmonicolor, and they improved the lactone production. beta-c
yclodextrins, which have a hydrophobic cavity that can trap molecules such
as gamma-C-10, have been used to protect the yeasts. The results showed ins
ufficient preservation of cell viability. Some sorbents (activated carbon a
nd polystyrene-based sorbents) were successfully tested during bioconversio
n. In all cases viability exceeded the reference one. Nevertheless the arom
a production was 30% lower than the reference. All of these solutions led t
o some enhancement of the cell viability during bioconversion of methyl ric
inoleate to gamma-C-10. For improvement of the lactone production, the oil
trapping method seemed to be the best with the experimental conditions test
ed.