PROCESS OF PRODUCTION OF VANILLIN WITH IMMOBILIZED MICROORGANISMS

A unique, innovative, and efficient system in order to convert ferulic acid into vanillin which involves the immobilization of actinomycetes in an effective solid support structure which is comprised of one or more pieces of a material, that is configured so as to allow effective aeration. For the immobilization of actinomycetes a surface culture is employed in which these microorganisms develop a mycelial growth pattern and adhere to the solid support structure. The use of surface culture also allows us to benefit from enhanced physiological responses such as increased growth rates and production yields of the actinomycetes when they are cultivated in this surface culture. Since the microorganisms are held captive in the supports, the step of biocatalysis can be repeated up to 15 times before the biocatalytic capacity is lost. An evaluation of the whole transformation process results in a higher vanillin yield.