Biotechnological production of terpenoid flavour and fragrance compounds in tailored bioprocesses

Integrated bioprocess concepts specific to the requirements of monoterpenes as precursors of microbial transformations were developed. R -Limonene and α-pinene were used as model precursors and bacteria and higher fungi served as biocatalysts. A closed-gas-loop bioreactor was set up to address the volatility of terpenoids. By this means α-terpineol was produced from R -limonene at the gram per litre scale with Penicillium digitatum. E. coli overexpressing a P450 BM-3 mutant served as biocatalyst to produce several hundreds of milligrams of pinene oxide, verbenol, and myrtenol from α-pinene. Here, an aqueous-organic two-phase bioreactor with diisononylphthalate as organic solvent was used for in situ precursor supply and product recovery.