Biotransformation of limonene-1,2-epoxide to limonene-1,2-diol by Rhodococcus erythropolis cells - An introductory approach to selective hydrolysis and product separation

Cells of Rhodococcus erythropolis DCL14, when grown on terpenes, show a lim onene epoxide hydrolase (LEH) activity which enables them to convert cis-li monene-1,2-epoxide to limonene-1,2-diol. The trans isomer is only converted when the cis isomer is not available. The transformation of limonene-1,2-e poxide ('limox') by whole cells of the above mentioned strain was used as a reaction model for the biotransformation of terpenes. The inclusion in the reaction system of an organic phase in which limox was dissolved led to hi gh diol production rates. A diol production of m (diol)/m (protein) = 72.40 was achieved in a 500 mt mechanically stirred reactor with an external loo p for product separation. A downstream process, based on the affinity of li mox for the organic phase and that of the diol for the aqueous phase, was d eveloped.