Resolution of 1,2-epoxyoctane by enantioselective catalytic hydrolysis in a membrane bioreactor

A flow-through membrane bioreactor was developed for the enantioselective c atalytic hydrolysis of racemic 1,2-epoxyoctane (epoxide) to (S)-1,2-epoxyoc tane and (R)-1,2-octanediol by an enzyme from the yeast Rhodosporidium toru loides. The effect of the low solubility on access of the epoxide to the ye ast cells was improved by adding 20% ethanol (EtOH) to the aqueous buffer i n the feed. Two process parameters were investigated to improve selectivity . The separation factor of the racemic epoxide (alpha (epoxide)) was increa sed from 2.3 to 6.3 by breaking the yeast cells. While the influence of the amount of yeast cells on selectivity was negligible, decreasing the flow r ate from 0.4 to 0.2 ml min(-1) resulted in an increase of alpha (epoxide) f rom 4.4 to 17.7. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.