Kvasny Prum. 1982; 28(6): 131-134 | DOI: 10.18832/kp1982027

Production of phenylacetylcarbinol and ephedrine - less known region of yeast utilization in industry.Peer-reviewed article

J. NETRVAL, M. VODŇANSKÝ

Phenylacetylcarbinol (PAC) is a base material for ephedrine production. Ephedrine is a constituent of many pharmaceutical preparations. For the PAC production waste brewer's yeast are used. The yeast suspension is supplied stepwise by benzaldehyde, sucrose and acetaldehyde where the last compound serves as a hydrogen acceptor, as long as the biotransformation is stopped due to the inhibition of the enzyme system. PAC formed is then extracted into the organic solvent. After its thickening the reduction in presence of methylamine and a special catalyst on a base of platinum under low hydrogen pressure is performed. The aim of experiments made was to improve the described procedure. It was found that pyruvic acid has a stimulative effect on the PAC production. The procedure of the PAC production by yeast under sterile conditions was elaborated. The PAC production was tested with 39 strains of various species of yeasts. With 4 yeast strains the production of PAC achieved was almost as high as that achieved with the strain Saccharomyces carlbergensis which has been considered as the best producer up to now.
(In Czech, English summary only)

Keywords: phenylacetylcarbinol, ephedrine, yeasts, production

Published: June 1, 1982