Process for whole-cell biosynthesis of styrene
AssigneeShell USA, Inc.
InventorsHanan Latif Fahmi MESSIHA, David LEYS
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Abstract
A process for producing styrene converts Z-phenylalanine using a first biocatalyst comprising a PAL enzyme (pheny-lalanine ammonia lyase from Rhodorotula glutinis EC 4.3.1.24) and a second biocatalyst comprising a Fdc1 enzyme (ferulic acid de-carboxylase from Aspergillus niger EC 4.1.1.102). The first and second biocatalysts are provided as whole-cell pellets or derivatives thereof. Styrene is produced by converting the L-phenylalanine to trans-cinnamic acid with the first biocatalyst and converting the trans-cinnamic acid to styrene with the second biocatalyst.
Claims12
A process for producing styrene, the process comprising the steps of:
- providing a source of L-phenylalanine to a vessel;
- adding a first biocatalyst comprising a PAL enzyme to the vessel, the first biocatalyst provided in a form selected from PAL-containing whole-cell pellets, a suspension of PAL-containing whole-cell pellets, a suspension of PAL-containing whole cells derived from PAL-containing whole-cell pellets, and combinations thereof;
- adding a second biocatalyst comprising a Fdc1 enzyme to the vessel, the second biocatalyst provided in a form selected from Fdc1-containing whole-cell pellets, a suspension of Fdc1-containing whole-cell pellets, a suspension of Fdc1-containing whole cells derived from whole-cell pellets, and combinations thereof;
- and
- producing styrene by converting the L-phenylalanine to trans-cinnamic acid with the first biocatalyst and converting the trans-cinnamic acid to styrene with the second biocatalyst.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.