Continuous biocatalytic synthesis of epoxypropane using a biofilm reactor

Mixed culture methanotrophic attached biofilms immobilized on diatomite particles in a three-phase fluidized bed reaction system were developed. Methane monooxygenase (MMO) activity on diatomite particles increased as soon as the lag phase ended. More than 90% of the MMO activity in the fluidized bed was attached. A biofilm concentration of 3.3c3.7mg dry weight cell (dwc) per g dry solid (DS) was observed. Batch experiments were performed to explore the possibility of producing epoxypropane by a propene-methane co-oxidation process. The effect of methane on the epoxidation of propene and the effect of propene on the growth of methanotroph was also studied. In continuous experiments, optimum mixed gas containing 35 methane, 20 propene and 45% oxygen were continuously circulated through the fluidized bed reactor to deliver substrates and extract product. Initial epoxypropane productivity was 110-150 mumol/day. The bioreactor operated continuously for 53 days without obvious loss of epoxypropane productivity. (C) 2002 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.