Improved production of (R)-2-octanol via asymmetric reduction of 2-octanone with Oenococcus oeni CECT4730 in a biphasic system

Oenococcus oeni CECT4730, which catalyses the asymmetric reduction of 2-octanone to (R)-2-octanol with high enantioselectivity, was further studied to exploit its potential for production of (R)-2-octanol in an aqueous/organic solvent biphasic system. Variables such as the volume ratio of aqueous to organic phase (Va/Vo), buffer pH, reaction temperature, shaking speed, co-substrates and the ratio of biocatalyst to substrate were examined with respect to the molar conversion, the initial reaction rate and the product enantiomeric excess (e.e.). Under the optimized conditions (Va/Vo=1:1 (v/v), buffer pH=8.0, reaction temperature=30 degrees C, shaking speed=150 rev/min, ratio of glucose to biomass=5.4:l (w/w), ratio of biocatalyst to substrate=0.51:l (g/mol)), the highest space time yield of (R)-2-octanol, 24 mmol L-1 per h, and > 98% product e.e. were obtained at a substrate concentration close to 1.0 mol L-1 after 24 h reduction.