Patent ID: 6165517
Filing Date: 2000-12-26
Classification: C12P,Y10S

Abstract:
A process for the high-yield production of acetophenone represented by the structural formula: ##STR27## comprising: (i) preparing an aqueous nutrient medium as a first aqueous liquid phase, containing a source of carbon, a nitrogen source, a buffer and yeast extract at a neutral pH of about 7;(ii) inoculating said first aqueous liquid phase with a bacteria species being a member selected from the group consisting of Arthrobacter ATCC 25581 and Comamonas testosteroni ATCC 17409, and incubating for a sufficient period of time with agitation to produce a grown culture of said bacteria species;(iii) preparing an acetophenone production medium a mixture containing a carbon source, a nitrogen source, a buffer and yeast extract at a neutral pH of about 7;(iv) mixing said grown culture and said acetophenone production medium together with agitation to form a reaction medium;(v) feeding a source of cinnarnic acid to said reaction medium at a rate sufficient to maintain a concentration in the range of 5-10 grams per liter of said cinnamic acid source and at a rate sufficient to enable said bacteria species to maintain oxidative growth; and(vi) aerating with an oxygen-containing gas at a rate enabling interaction with said carbon source to avoid production of unwanted alcohol in a sufficient amount to maintain oxidative conditions throughout the reaction to thereby achieve an oxidation reaction in the presence of said bacteria species capable of producing said natural acetophenone compound in a high yield.