Poster Presentation 5-18

 

Process of Microbiological Oxidation of   4-[1-Propenyl-(E)]-1,2-Methylenedioxybenzene into 4-Carboxaldehyde-1,2-Methylenedioxybenzene

 

A. S. Santos1,2, N. Pereira Jr3, I. M. Silva3, M. I. Sarquis5 and O. A. C. Antunes1

 

1Instituto de Química

Universidade do Brasil

UFRJ

 

2Departamento de Engenharia Química

Universidade Federal do Pará

UFPA

 

3Departamento de Engenharia Bioquímica

Escola de Química-Universidade

 

4Departamento de Micologia-Laboratório de Coleção de Cultura de Fungos

IOC

 

Telephone:  55-021-2124527246; Fax:  55-021-2125627559; E-mail: alberdan@ufpa.br

 

  

Biotransformation of 4-(1-propenyl-(E)) -1,2-methylenedioxybenzene  by Cladosporium sphaerospermum yielded 4-carboxaldehyde-1,2-methylenedioxybenzene.  Development of this biotransformation process revealed high oxidative selection of the xenobiotic substrate, producing a single aldehyde of great commercial importance for the flavor & fragrance industry, mainly with great potential for application in the cosmetics industry.  Experiments were performed in conical 500-mL flasks, containing 100 mL of Czapeck-modified medium, in an orbital shaker with controlled agitation and temperature.  Spores of C. sphaerospermum were used as inocula, and after incubation for 96 hours the substrate was added to the culture.  Sample sizes of 2 mL were withdrawn at 24-hour intervals and, after organic compounds separation from the water broth, submitted to analysis by GC and GC/MS.  Even though the substrate is highly toxic to a variety of microorganisms, biotransformation yielded 9.8% conversion, demonstrating the feasibility of the process.  This is the first published report describing commercial products generated by biotransformation from substances belonging to the arylpropene class, which contain a methylenedioxyphenyl group.

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