title: A novel solid-liquid two-phase partitioning bioreactor for the enhanced bioproduction of 3-methylcatechol.
abstract: The bioproduction of 3-methylcatechol from toluene via Pseudomonas putida MC2 was performed in a solid-liquid two-phase partitioning bioreactor with the intent of increasing yield and productivity over a single-phase system. The solid phase consisted of HYTREL, a thermoplastic polymer that was shown to possess superior affinity for the inhibitory 3-methylcatechol compared to other candidate polymers as well as a number of immiscible organic solvents. Operation of a solid-liquid biotransformation utilizing a 10% (w/w) solid (polymer beads) to liquid phase ratio resulted in the bioproduction of 3-methylcatechol at a rate of 350 mg/L-h, which compares favorably to the single phase productivity of 128 mg/L-h. . HYTREL polymer beads were also reconstituted into polymer sheets, which were placed around the interior circumference of the bioreactor and successfully removed 3-methylcatechol from solution resulting in a rate of 3-methylcatechol production of 343 mg/L-h. Finally, a continuous biotransformation was performed in which culture medium was circulated upwards through an external extraction column containing HYTREL beads. The design maintained sub lethal concentrations of 3-methylcatechol within the bioreactor by absorbing produced 3-methylcatechol into the polymer beads. As 3-methylcatechol concentrations in the aqueous phase approached 500 mg/L the extraction column was replaced (twice) with a fresh column and the process was continued representing a simple and effective approach for the continuous bioproduction of 3-methylcatechol. Recovery of 3-methylcatechol from HYTREL was also achieved by bead desorption into methanol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6.
authors.forename: George P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Prpich
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Daugulis
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D001711:Biotransformation; D002396:Catechols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D016958:Pseudomonas putida / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction / Q000379:methods; D014050:Toluene / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002396:Catechols; C059046:Hytrel; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; C031136:3-methylcatechol; D014050:Toluene