Preparation of vanillin from microbial transformation media by extraction by means supercritical fluids or gases

• US 7,981,646 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2004
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saf-Isis
• Original Assignee: Saf-Isis
• Inventors: Hill, Colin, Myers, Steve, Robbins, Keith, Heald, Steve, Walford, Tim
• Primary Examiner(s): Marx; Irene
• Application Number:
  US10/550,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20070298475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,668 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 435/156
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/205 Bacterial isolates
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/24 containing a carbonyl group
• CPC Class Codes: C12R 2001/01 Bacteria or Actinomycetales ; using bacteria or Actinomycetales
• CPC Class Codes: C12R 2001/465 Streptomyces
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/54 using solvents, e.g. supercritical solvents or ionic liquids

Abstract

Crude solid vanillin-containing material is precipitated from a solution obtained by biotransformation, and purified by a process comprising contacting it with a purification fluid selected from (a) a liquefied gas whose pressure exceeds its critical pressure and whose temperature is below its critical temperature; (b) a supercritical fluid; (c) a gas. The fluid is preferably liquid carbon dioxide. The temperature is maintained below 25°. The product may be further purified by treatment with CO₂ in a fluid bed drier. The crude material is preferably one precipitated from a solution resulting from biotransformation of ferulic acid. A new strain of Amycolatopsis capable of generating high concentrations of vanillin with minimal odoriferous by-products (e.g. guaiacol) is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of preparing vanillin which comprises:

(i) carrying out a biotransformation process which comprises the biotransformation of ferulic acid in the presence of a microorganism consisting of Amycolatopsis sp. IMI 390106 , to generate a biotransformation medium which contains vanillin produced by said biotransformation process and substantially free from odoriferous by-products;

(ii) precipitating a crude vanillin product from a solution which is or is derived from said biotransformation medium; and

(iii) purifying said vanillin product by a process comprising contacting the vanillin product with a purification fluid selected from (a) a liquefied gas whose pressure exceeds its critical pressure and whose temperature is below its critical temperature;

(b) a supercritical fluid;

(c) a gas;

to provide solid vanillin.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said purification fluid is a liquefied gas.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said purification fluid is at a temperature below 25°

.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said purification fluid is (a) a liquefied gas or (b) a supercritical fluid.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said fluid is carbon dioxide.

6. A method according to claim 1 including a further step (iv) of treating said vanillin of step (iii) with a gas in a fluidized bed.

7. A method according to claim 1 in which the supercritical fluid and/or the gas is carbon dioxide.

8. A method according to claim 1 in which the ferulic acid is derived from a natural plant source.

9. A method according to claim 1 in which the biotransformation medium is a culture medium.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said Amycolatopsis sp. IMI 390106 is capable of producing vanillin substantially free from guaiacol.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein said Amycolatopsis sp. IMI 390106 is capable of producing vanillin containing not more than 100ppm of guaiacol.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein said solid vanillin obtained at step (iii) has a vanillin content of 98% to 100%.