Coenzyme Q10 production by immobilized Sphingomonas sp. ZUTE03 via a conversion–extraction coupled process in a three-phase fluidized bed reactor

A three-phase fluidized bed reactor (TPFBR) was designed to evaluate the potential of CoQ10 production by gel-entrapped Sphingomonas sp. ZUTE03 via a conversion–extract coupled process. In the reactor, the CoQ10 yield reached 46.99 mg/L after 8 h of conversion; a high-level yield of about 45 mg/L was maintained even after 15 repetitions (8 h/batch). To fully utilize the residual precursor (para-hydroxybenzoic acid, PHB) in the aqueous phase, the organic phase was replaced with new solution containing 70 mg/L solanesol for each 8 h batch. The CoQ10 yield of each batch was maintained at a level of about 43 mg/L until the PHB ran out. When solid solanesol was fed to the organic phase for every 8 h batch, CoQ10 could accumulate and reach a yield of 171.52 mg/L. When solid solanesol and PHB were fed to the conversion system after every 8 h batch, the CoQ10 yield reached 441.65 mg/L in the organic phase after 20 repetitions, suggesting that the conversion–extract coupled process could enhance CoQ10 production in the TPFBR.

► We design a three-phase fluidized bed reactor (TPFBR) for CoQ10 production by Sphingomonas sp.
► CoQ10 production via a conversion–extract coupled process was accomplished in the TPFBR.
► CoQ10 yield reached 46.99 mg/L after 8 h of conversion.
► 441.65 mg/L CoQ10 accumulated after 20 repetitions when solid precursors were fed in every batch.