Process for the production of methyl methacrylate

A process for the production of methyl methacrylate (MMA), the process comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a microorganism that expresses one or more enzymes necessary to catalyse the production of C3-C12 methacrylate esters in a fermentation medium, under conditions which said microorganism will produce a C3-C12 methacrylate ester enzymatically;
• b) providing an organic phase in contact with the fermentation medium, said organic phase including C3-C12 methacrylate ester in a higher concentration than that in the fermentation medium;
• c) removing organic phase containing said C3-C12 methacrylate ester from contact with the fermentation medium;
• and
• d) transesterifying the removed C3-C12 methacrylate ester with methanol, optionally after separation from the organic phase, to produce methyl methacrylate, wherein the transesterification of step d) is non-enzymatic takes place in the presence of methanol and a base catalyst.