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Biocatalyst stability in continuous reactions is one of the main bottlenecks for their application for chemical syntheses. This is especially true for the turnover of toxic compounds and challenging reactions like oxyfunctionalizations of hydrocarbons. Gross et al. report a tube reactor based on a catalytic biofilm for asymmetric epoxidation reactions utilizing the remarkable resistance of microbes in biofilms against biocides and their ability of selfimmobilization on surfaces. A one-species biofilm of Pseudomonas sp. strain VLB120DC catalyzing the enantioselective epoxidation of styrene to (S)-styrene oxide (ee >99.8%) was cultivated inside a silicone tube. The biotransfomation substrate was added from the outside of the tube and entered the biofilm via diffusion through the silicone membrane. The product styrene oxide was extracted into the styrene phase, providing means of in situ product removal. Interestingly, the process was stable for at least 55 days at a maximal volumetric productivity of 16 g/(L aq day).
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