Preparing dihydroxyacetone, useful e.g. in cosmetic composition, comprises cultivating microorganisms in growth medium, adjusting pH of the medium, contacting cells with a base and culturing the microorganism in presence of carbohydrates

摘要

Preparation of dihydroxyacetone, comprises: cultivating microorganisms which are able to convert carbohydrates into dihydroxyacetone in a growth medium, preferably up to achieving a concentration of dry biomass in the culture medium of at least 12 g/l; adjusting the pH of the microorganism surrounding culture medium at 4.5-6.5, preferably 5.25-5.75; contacting the cells with a base with a base dissociation constant (pK-B)-value of less than 4.75; and culturing the microorganism in the presence of carbohydrates, so that the cells form dihydroxyacetone from carbohydrates. Independent claims are included for: (1) the dihydroxyacetone, obtained by the above process; (2) a stabilized phase comprising dihydroxyacetone and organic solvent, obtained by the above process; (3) a process for producing an organic compound by oxidation- and/or reduction reaction, in which the dihydroxyacetone is used as reactant, comprising providing the dihydroxyacetone or the stabilized phase containing dihydroxyacetone and an organic solvent, and converting the dihydroxyacetone by oxidation- and/or reduction reaction; (4) the organic compound, obtained by the above process; and (5) a cosmetic composition comprising the dihydroxyacetone or the stabilized phase.