The hydroxylation of biphenyl by Aspergillus toxicarius: Conditions for a bench scale fermentation process.
Fungi of the Aspergillus sp. can hydroxyate biphenyl to 4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl, a chemical intermediate used in the plastics industry. The authors studied various batch culture conditions for the production of 4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl, by Aspergillus toxicarius, in 25-mL shake flasks and 2-L fermenter cultures. Conditions investigated included temperature, aeration, carbon and nitrogen sources, biomass content, and time of substrate addition. Under optimum conditions we observed a rate of 4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl production of 15-20 mg/day/g dry wt mycelia. Such a production rate is probably too low to support a commercial process and possible reasons for the low productivity are discussed.
Martin Marietta Laboratories, 1450 South Rolling Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21227.
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Golbeck
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Cox