Production of L (+) lactic acid by Lactobacillus delbrueckii immobilized in functionalized alginate matrices

The role of functionalized alginate gels as immobilized matrices in production of L (+) lactic acid by Lactobacillus delbrueckii was studied. L. delbrueckii cells immobilized in functionalized alginate beads showed enhanced bead stability and selectivity towards production of optically pure L (+) lactic acid in higher yields (1.74Yp/s) compared to natural alginate. Palmitoylated alginate beads revealed 99% enantiomeric selectivity (ee) in production of L (+) lactic acid. Metabolite analysis during fermentation indicated low by-product (acetic acid, propionic acid and ethanol) formation on repeated batch fermentation with functionalized immobilized microbial cells. The scanning electron microscopic studies showed dense entrapped microbial cell biomass in modified immobilized beads compared to native alginate. Thus the methodology has great importance in large-scale production of optically pure lactic acid

Enantioselective reduction of prochiral ketones employing sprouted Pisum sativa as biocatalyst

Sprouted green peas have been used for the first time as biocatalysts for enantioselective reduction of prochiral ketones. The reactions are highly enantioselective to furnish chiral alcohols in good yields. The sprouted peas as biocatalysts are a cheap and easy way for generating some interesting chiral alcohols. This process is efficient and convenient to produce chiral secondary alcohols in water

Daucus carota and baker's yeast mediated bio-reduction of prochiral ketones

Stereoselective reduction of prochiral ketones to the corresponding alcohols using biocatalysts has attracted much attention, from the viewpoint of green chemistry. Asymmetric reduction of indanone, tetralone and hydroxyl trimonoterpene ketones to the corresponding enantiomerically pure (S)-alcohols, using Daucus carota plant homogenate and fermented baker's yeast cells, is described. The present study illustrates the broad substrate selectivity of the dehydrogenase enzymes present in the D. carota in the synthesis of a wide range of chiral secondary alcohols of biological importance