A continuous and adsorptive bioprocess for efficient production of the natural aroma chemical 2-phenylethanol with yeast

Natural 2-phenylethanol is a high value aroma chemical and can be produced from l-phenylalanine via Ehrlich pathway by yeasts. Due to serious product inhibition, the space–time yield is usually low. A continuous approach using macroporous resin as in situ adsorbent made it possible that the quantity and viability of the cells were improved simultaneously. With Saccharomyces cerevisiae sp. strain R-UV3, the highest space–time yield of 0.90 g L −1 h −1 reported so far was obtained.