The purpose of this study is to develop a continuous process for sorbitol production using dried Zymomonas mobilis immobilized in K-carrageenan. The methods of glutaraldehyde cross-linking of enzymes in CTAB(cetyltrimetylammoniumbromide) treated cells...
The purpose of this study is to develop a continuous process for sorbitol production using dried Zymomonas mobilis immobilized in K-carrageenan. The methods of glutaraldehyde cross-linking of enzymes in CTAB(cetyltrimetylammoniumbromide) treated cells immobilized in K-carrageenan showed a stability for the production of sorbitol for 30 days of operation K-carrageenan beads entrapping permeabilized cells were dried to improve bead rigidity and storage stability. A semi-batch process with dry beads was carried out and only a small loss of enzyme activity(less than 8%) was observed during 72h. The value of Vmax for the dry K-carrageenan beads was found to be one half of that for free cells. It was shown that the productivities of the continuous process with wet K-carrageenan beads and dry beads at a dilution rate 0.1h^-1 were 3.4g/L and 2.88g/L-h respectively.