Studies on the production of L-phenylacetylcarbinol by Candida utilis in shake flask

The present study reveals the production of L-phenylacetylcarbinol (L-PAC) by Candida utilis in 250ml shake flask. Different fermentation media supplemented with various carbon sources were optimized along with different incubation temperatures and inocula to achieve the optimum level of biomass. Ml medium containing (g/L) clarified molasses (30.0 Brix) 250.0, urea 10.0 and MgSO4 20.0 (pH 6.0) gave the optimum biomass level (240x10(6) cells/ml) after the inoculation of 14 hours old vegetative inoculums (15% v/v containing 240x10(6) cells/ml) after 6.0 hours at 30 degree C. Biotransformation of benzaldehyde into L-PAC was then carried out with different dose patterns along with supplementation of acetaldehyde. Maximum L-PAC production (4.15 g/L) was observed when 316mul of benzaldehyde was fed in six installments such as 68, 62, 56, 50, 43, 37mul in equal interval of 60 minutes at 30 degree C with orbital shaking of 150rpm.