Biocatalytic conversion of turpentine – a wood processing waste – into oxygenated monoterpenes

Dvořáková M., Valterová I., Vaněk T.
BIOCATALYSIS AND BIOTRANSFORMATION 29(5): 204–211, 2011

Keywords: biotransformation, monoterpene, oxidation, Picea abies, plant, turpentine
Abstract: Three kinds of turpentine (a waste by-product of industrial wood processing) of various monoterpene compositions were transformed by Picea abies cells and the product yields monitored in relation to the initial turpentine concentration. The major products obtained were trans-verbenol, trans-pinocarveol, myrtenol, α -terpineol, and p-cymen-8-ol depending on the substrate composition. The absolute quantitative values of the major products were evaluated for a substrate concentration of 0.86 g L-1 . The concentration of trans-verbenol and trans-pinocarveol after twelve days of biotransformation was 768 and 388 mg L-1 , respectively. The substrate was uptaken by Picea abies cells within the fi rst three days and the majority of products released in five days. Although not all the starting material was consumed, the Picea abies suspension culture was able to convert concentrations of turpentine as high as 4.3 g L 1 into valuable products. By precise selection of the substrate concentration and time course, favourable conversion to products could be achieved.
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IEB authors: Marcela Dvořáková, Tomáš Vaněk