Extractive fermentation of aroma with supercritical CO2.

This work deals with the feasibility of achieving an extractive fermentation of 2-phenylethyl alcohol, the rose aroma, coupling fermentation with Kluyveromyces marxianus and supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2) extraction. The extractive process is, in this case, of special interest due to the strong yeast inhibition by 2-phenylethyl alcohol. First results confirmed that direct SCCO2 extraction is not possible, due to a drastic CO2 effect on cell viability.

Production of 2-phenylethyl alcohol by Kluyveromyces marxianus.

Among the numerous yeasts able to produce flavor compounds, several strains of Kluyveromyces species are known for the synthesis of large amounts of aromatic compounds. In particular, the accumulation of 2-phenylethyl alcohol in liquid cultures of Kluyveromyces marxianus was observed after incubation on a semisynthetic medium at 30 degrees C, 125 rpm. Changes in the carbon sources led to a significant modification of the amount of this aromatic compound; moreover, the variations in the level of DL-phenylalanine and the exclusive use of a precursor isomer (L) also affected the synthesis of 2-phenylethyl alcohol.