Coupling of Fermentation and Esterification: Microbial Esterification of Decanoic Acid with Ethanol Produced via Fermentation

Abstract

Two different kinds of bioprocess, ethanol fermentation and subsequent microbial esterification, were coupled using Issatchenkia terricola IFO 0933 in an interface bioreactor. The strain produced ethyl decanoate (Et-DA) by esterification of exogenous decanoic acid (DA) with ethanol produced via fermentation. The efficiency of the new coupling system depended on the concentration of glucose in a carrier and DA in an organic phase (decane) in an agar plate interface bioreactor. Optimum glucose content and DA concentration were 4% and 29 mM, respectively.