Screening of yeasts for the production of the aroma compound 2-phenylethanol in a molasses-based medium

Fourteen yeast strains were screened for production of 2-phenylethanol from l-phenylalanine with molasses as carbon source. Up to 1 g 2-phenylethanol l−1 was obtained. Using oleyl alcohol as a second phase for in situ product removal to enhance the production of 2-phenylethanol increased the yield to about 3 g 2-phenylethanol l−1 at 35 °C. The most productive strains were Kluyveromyces marxianus CBS 600 and CBS 397.