Production of L‐phenylacetyl carbinol by immobilized yeast cells: I. Batch fermentation

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Abstract
Immobilization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 834 within alginate beads enhances microbiological conversion of benzaldehyde to L‐phenylacetyl carbinol (L‐PAC), a precursor employed for synthesis of L‐ephedrine. Yields of 90% L‐PAC on benzaldehyde (initially 0.6% in medium) were obtained with immobilized cells, in contrast to about 10% with free cells which tend to form pellets in the presence of benzaldehyde. The predominant favorable action of immobilization appears to be a reduction in the toxic or inhibitory effects of benzaldehyde. With an initial benzaldehyde concentration of about 0.6% in the medium the optimum cell mass concentration was observed to be about 28 g cell mass (immobilized) per liter of medium.