Process for the improved separation of a hydrophobic organic solution from an aqueous culture medium

US9249435B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• EVONIK DEGUSSA GMBH · DE

Inventors

• Jasmin Gielen · Bochum, DE
• Thomas Haas · Munster, DE
• Hans-Georg Hennemann · Marl, DE
• Steffen Schaffer · Herten, DE
• Mirja Wessel · Bochum, DE
• Katharina Berse · Waltrop, DE
• Marion Schiebelhut · Haltern, DE
• Sabine Hafkemeyer · Marl, DE
• Markus Poetter · Munster, DE
• Frank Erhardt · Bielefeld, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 20, 2012
• Grant date: Feb 2, 2016
• Expiry date: Apr 29, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12Y103/99003
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for the improved separation of a hydrophobic organic solution from an aqueous culture medium is provided. The process includes preparing an aqueous culture medium of a metabolically active cell having a decreased activity; contacting of the aqueous culture medium with a hydrophobic organic solution comprising a substrate for biotransformation; conducting a biotransformation of the substrate; and separating the hydrophobic organic solution comprising a biotransformed substrate from the aqueous culture medium. The decreased activity of the metabolically active cell is in comparison to a wild-type of the active cell and the decreased activity is of at least of one enzyme that catalyzes one reaction of β-oxidation of fatty acids. The invention further provides a metabolically active cell that has a decreased activity, compared to its wild-type, of an enzyme that catalyzes one of the reactions of the β-oxidation of fatty acids, including an enzyme selected from FadA, FadB, FadD, FadL and FadE as well as variants thereof.