the present invention relates to a novel epoxide hydrolase enzyme which aims to achieve a high degree of resolution towards a broader range of substrates with high enantioselectivity and yields with minimal product inhibition . the invention further relates to a new bacterial strain achromobacter sp . mtcc 5605 isolated from a petroleum - contaminated sludge sample , capable of producing the said enzyme . it is notable that the enzyme can be used as whole bacterial cell preparation , which allows continuous hydrolysis of substrates at even higher concentration and have an advantage of being recycled . the invention further relates to a process for the hydrolysis of different aryl epoxides which are potential synthons of intermediates for the synthesis of chiral amino alcohols and bioactive compounds like β - blockers .