Sophorolipids: a source for novel compounds

Renewable resources, such as rapeseed oil or oleic acid, combined with glucose were used both in a feed-batch and two-stage continuous process for the production of sophorolipids with the yeast Candida bombicola ATCC 22214. High yields > 300 g 1(-1) and increased productivities of 57 g 1(-1) d(-1) (feed-batch) and 76 g 1(-1) d(-1) (continuous mode), respectively, were obtained by using optimized cultivation conditions. The key-factors for enhanced sophorolipid production are presented. The acidic sophorolipid was used for further modification after alkaline hydrolysis and purification. A novel glucoselipid was synthesized by using the enzyme naringinase (EC 3.2.1.40). a (omega -1) hydroxyfatty acid, commercially not yet available and difficult to prepare by organic synthesis, was released by acidic hydrolysis, purified and is proposed as a precursor for plastics and flavours. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.