One-step conversion of cellulose to fructose using coimmobilized cellulase, β-glucosidase,and glucose isomerase

Glucose isomerase was immobilized by itself and coimmobilized with cellulase and β-glucosidase using a polyurethane foam (Hypol® FHP 2002). Approximately 50% of the enzyme added was immobilized. The immobilized enzyme was active at pH values as low as 6.8. When immobilized alone, the K_m for Mg²⁺ increased by 5.5fold and the K_m for fructose increased 62%. The half-life of the immobilized glucose isomerase was approximately 160 h of continuous hydrolysis, with a substantial (about 35–40%) amount of activity remaining even after 1000 h. When all three enzymes were immobilized together, the system was found capable of functioning at pH 7.0 to produce fructose from both soluble and insoluble cellulose substrates. At this pH, the glucose:fructose ratio was 70:30. The advantageous properties of the foam as a support for enzyme immobilization and the efficiency of the one-step conversion process outlined combine to make this system appear valuable for use in high fructose syrup production.     

Thermodynamics of the conversion of aqueous glucose to fructose

The thermodynamics of the conversion of aqueous glucose to fructose has been investigated using both heat conduction microcalorimetry and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The reaction was carried out in both aqueous Tris/HCl buffer and in aqueous phosphate buffer in the pH range 7–8 using the enzyme glucose isomerase and the cofactors CoCl₂ and MgSO₄. The temperature range over which this reaction was investigated was 298.15–358.15 K. We have found that the enthalpy of reaction is independent of pH over the range investigated. A combined analysis of both the HPLC and microcalorimetric data leads to the following results at 298 15 K:ΔG° = 349 ± 53 J mol^-1, ΔH° = 2.78 ± 0.20 kJ mol^-1, and ΔC _p ^° = 76 ± 30 J mol^-1 K^-1. The stated uncertainties are based upon an analysis of both the random and systematic errors inherent in the measurements. Comparisons are made with literature data. The percent conversion of glucose to fructose has been calculated for the temperature range 300–373.15 K.     

MgO‐ZrO2 Mixed Oxides as Effective and Reusable Base Catalysts for Glucose Isomerization into Fructose in Aqueous Media

MgO‐ZrO₂ mixed oxides prepared with different Mg/Zr atomic ratios (denoted as xMZ: where x is the atomic ratio of Mg/Zr) are investigated for the glucose isomerization to fructose in water at 95 °C. The highest fructose yield of 33 % is obtained over 0.76MZ with ≈74 % selectivity after 3 h. To gain insight into the structure–activity relationships, the prepared catalysts are characterized by N₂ physisorption, XRD, FTIR and CO₂‐TPD. The results indicate that the addition of MgO drastically changed the textual property of ZrO₂ and increased the number of basic sites. The kinetic studies revealed that the Lewis basic sites (cus‐O^2?) generated from the highly dispersed MgO are the active sites responsible for the enhanced isomerization activity. Notably, MZ is reusable for four runs without a significant decrease in catalyst activity. Accordingly, this study provides an easily prepared, cheap, and recyclable catalyst that may hold great potential for fructose production.     

Carbon-silica composite matrices for preparing heterogeneous biocatalysts with glucose isomerase activity

Comparative studies have been carried out on the preparation of carbon-silica composite matrices for heterogeneous biocatalysts with glucose isomerase activity. Carbon nanotubes and nanofibers have been included inside SiO₂ xerogel. The enzymatic activity and operating stability of the biocatalysts have been investigated. Bacterial cells of a recombinant glucose isomerase producer strain have been used as the enzymatically active component of the biocatalysts. The steady-state activity of the biocatalysts subjected to “dry” cross linking with a glutaraldehyde solution (0.1–1%) is 1.5 times higher than the activity of the biocatalysts containing no nanocarbon. The initial and steady-state glucose-isomerase activities of the biocatalysts at 70°C are ∼520–540 and ∼150–160 μmol min⁻¹ g⁻¹, respectively. The half-inactivation time of the biocatalysts under continuous monosaccharide (glucose, fructose) isomerization conditions is up to ∼1500 h.     

Kinetic Modeling of Fructooligosaccharide Production Using Aspergillus oryzae N74

In this study, the kinetic for the bioconversion of sucrose to fructooligosaccharides (FOS) by free cells of Aspergillus oryzae N74 was modeled. In addition, the effect of immobilized glucose isomerase (IGI) on FOS production yield was evaluated and considered in the kinetic model. The selected kinetic models were based on a proposed reaction mechanism described by elementary rate equations and modified Michaelis?CMenten kinetic equations. The use of IGI allowed to increase the FOS production yield (FOS_Yield) and to decrease the glucose/fructose (G/F) ratio. At shake flask scale, the FOS_Yield was increased in 4.7?% (final yield 58.3?%), while the G/F ratio was reduced 6.2-fold. At bench scale, the FOS_Yield was increased in 2.2?% (final yield 57.3?%), while the G/F ratio was reduced 4.5-fold. The elementary rate equation model was the one that best adjusted experimental data for FOS production using either the fungus biomass or the mixture fungus biomass?CIGI, with an overall average percentage error of 7.2. Despite that FOS production yield was not highly improved by the presence of IGI in the reaction mixture, it favored the reduction of residual glucose in the mixture, avoiding the loss of material owe to glucose transformation to fructose that can be used in situ for FOS production by the fructosyltransferase.     

Purification and Characterization of a Novel Thermostable Xylose Isomerase from <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Opuntia vulgaris</Emphasis> Mill

Thermophilic xylose isomerase from the xerophytic eukaryote Opuntia vulgaris can serve as a good alternate source of enzyme for use in the production of high fructose corn syrup. The existence of two temperature stable isoforms having optimal activity at temperatures 70 °C (T₇₀) and 90 °C (T₉₀), respectively, is reported here. These isoforms were purified to homogeneity using column chromatography and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic techniques. Only the T₉₀ isoform was subjected to full biochemical characterization thereafter. The purified T₉₀ isoform was capable of converting glucose to fructose with high efficiency under the assay conditions. The enzyme at pH 7.5 exhibited a preference to yield the forward isomerization reaction. The melting temperature of the native enzyme was determined to be 90 °C employing differential scanning colorimetery. Thermostability of the enzyme protein was established through temperature-related denaturation kinetic studies. It is suggested that the thermostability and the wide pH activity of this eukaryotic enzyme will make it an advantageous and dependable alternate source of catalytic activity for protected use in the high fructose corn syrup sweetener industry.     

Immobilization of glucose isomerase and its application in continuous production of high fructose syrup

Bilayer glucose isomerase was immobilized in porousp-trimethylamine-polystyrene (TMPS) beads, through a molecular deposition technique. Some of the factors that influence the activity of immobilized glucose isomerase were optimized, with the enzyme concentration of 308 IU/mL, enzyme:matrix ratio of 924 IU/g wet carrier, and hexamethylenebis(trimethylammonium iodine) concentration of 15 mg/mL, giving the maximum catalytic activity (2238 IU/g dry gel) of the immobilized bilayer glucose isomerase, retaining 68.5% of the initially added activity. The half-life of the immobilized bilayer glucose isomerase was approx 45 d at pH 8.5, 60°C, with 50% (w/v) glucose as substrate. The specific productivity of the immobilized bilayer glucose isomerase was 223 g dry D-glucose/g dry immobilized enzyme per day.     

Immobilization of glucose isomerase onto granular chicken bone

Glucose isomerase was immobilized onto granular chicken bone (BIOBONE?) by adsorption. The amount of activity bound relative to an equal amount of free enzyme was 32?1%, with the estimated specific activity decreasing from ll.l?0.7 to 3.9?0.5 U/mg protein with immobilization. Compared with the free enzyme, immobilized glucose isomerase showed a threefold increase in theKm for fructose and a fivefold decrease in V_max. High operating temperatures were possible (>55?C), but continuous use and long-term storage studies showed gradual losses of activity. Both the binding and the activity of the bone-immobilized enzyme were highly resistant to treatments with detergent, ethanol, and KC1. Studies to determine mass transfer limitation effects on immobilized glucose isomerase showed that these were insignificant for this system.     

Preparation and properties of glucose isomerase immobilized on Indion 48-R

Partially purified glucose isomerase fromStreptomyces thermonitrificans when coupled to glutaraldehyde-activated Indion 48-R, retained 30–40% activity of the soluble enzyme. However, an approximately twofold increase in the activity could be achieved by binding the enzyme in the presence of glucose. Binding the enzyme to matrices presaturated with either glucose or fructose and influence of lysine modification on the activity of the soluble enzyme revealed that the comparatively low activity observed in case of the enzyme bound in the absence of substrate is the result of the nonspecific binding of either substrate or product to the matrix. Immobilization did not affect the pH and temperature optima of the enzyme, but it lowered the temperature stability. Immobilization resulted in a marginal increase in theK _m and a threefold decrease in theV _max . Substrate concentrations as high as 36% glucose could be converted to 18.5% fructose in 5 h, at pH 7.0 and 70‡C. The bound enzyme, however, showed inferior stability to repeated use and lost approx 40% of its initial activity after five cycles of use. Indion 48-R bound glucose isomerase could be stored, in wet state, for 30 d without any apparent loss in its initial activity.     

Effect of Different Ionic Liquids on 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural Preparation from Glucose in DMA over AlCl3: Experimental and Theoretical Study

In this work, effect of different ionic liquids (ILs) on 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) preparation from glucose in N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMA) over AlCl₃ was revealed by a combined experimental and computational study. ILs used as cocatalysts in this work included N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone hydrogen sulfate ([NMP]HSO₄), N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone methyl sulfate ([NMP]CH₃SO₃), N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone chlorine ([NMP]Cl) and N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone bromide ([NMP]Br) which were endowed with the same cation but different anions. According to the conclusion that fructose was intermediate product from glucose to HMF, we found fructose was transformed to more by‐products by [NMP]HSO₄, making HMF yield decline significantly when glucose was treated as substrate. Neither glucose nor fructose could be converted by [NMP]CH₃SO₃ efficiently, leading to its no influence on glucose conversion to HMF. [NMP]Br had a higher selectivity for HMF from fructose than [NMP]Cl and AlCl₃. Besides, Al³⁺ preferred to combine with Br^?, slightly decreasing both the overall free energy barrier for glucose isomerization and activation barrier for H‐shift at 393.15 K. So a high HMF yield of 57% was obtained from glucose catalyzed by AlCl₃ together with [NMP]Br under mild conditions.     

Production of 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural from Fructose in Ionic Liquid Efficiently Catalyzed by Cr(III)‐Al2O3 Catalyst

A series of metal‐Al₂O₃ catalysts were prepared simply by the conventional impregnation with Al₂O₃ and metal chlorides, which were applied to the dehydration of fructose to 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). An agreeable HMF yield of 93.1% was achieved from fructose at mild conditions (100°C and 40 min) when employing Cr(III)‐Al₂O₃ as catalyst in 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl). The Cr(III)‐Al₂O₃ catalyst was characterized via XRD, DRS and Raman spectra and the results clarified the interaction between the Cr(III) and the alumina support. Meanwhile, the reaction solvents ([Bmim]Cl) collected after 1^st reaction run and 5^th reaction run were analyzed by ICP‐OES and LC‐ITMS and the results confirmed that no Cr(III) ion was dropped off from the alumina support during the fructose dehydration. Notably, Cr(III)‐Al₂O₃ catalyst had an excellent catalytic performance for glucose and sucrose and the HMF yields were reached to 73.7% and 84.1% at 120°C for 60 min, respectively. Furthermore, the system of Cr(III)‐Al₂O₃ and [Bmim]Cl exhibited a constant stability and activity at 100°C for 40 min and a favorable HMF yield was maintained after ten recycles.     

Evaluation of Cashew Apple Juice for the Production of Fuel Ethanol

A commercial strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used for the production of ethanol by fermentation of cashew apple juice. Growth kinetics and ethanol productivity were calculated for batch fermentation with different initial sugar (glucose + fructose) concentrations. Maximal ethanol, cell, and glycerol concentrations were obtained when 103.1 g L⁻¹ of initial sugar concentration was used. Cell yield (Y _X/S) was calculated as 0.24 (g microorganism)/(g glucose + fructose) using cashew apple juice medium with 41.3 g L⁻¹ of initial sugar concentration. Glucose was exhausted first, followed by fructose. Furthermore, the initial concentration of sugars did not influence ethanol selectivity. These results indicate that cashew apple juice is a suitable substrate for yeast growth and ethanol production.     

Immobilization of glucose isomerase and its application in continuous production of high fructose syrup

Bilayer glucose isomerase was immobilized in porousp-trimethylaminepolystyrene (TMPS) beads through a molecular deposition technique. Some of the factors that influence the activity of immobilized glucose isomerase were optimized, with the enzyme concentration of 308 IU/mL, enzyme-to-matrix ratio of 924 IU/g wet carrier, and hexamethylene bis(trimethylammonium iodine) concentration of 15 mg/mL giving the maximum catalytic activity (2238 IU/g dry gel) of the immobilized bilayer glucose isomerase, retaining 68.5% of the initially added activity. The half-life of the immobilized bilayer glucose isomerase was approx 45 d at pH 8.5, 60°C, with 50% (w/v) glucose as substrate. The specific productivity of the immobilized bilayer glucose isomerase was 223 g dry D-glucose/g dry immobilized enzyme per d.     

Controlled Production of Fructose by an Exoinulinase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus Ficuum</Emphasis>

An exoinulinase has been isolated, purified and characterised from a commercially available broth of Aspergillus ficuum. The enzyme was purified 4.2-fold in a 21% yield with a specific activity of 12,300 U mg⁻¹(protein) after dialysis, ammonium sulphate fractionation and Sephacryl S-200 size exclusion and ion exchange chromatography. The molecular weight of this enzyme was estimated to be 63 kDa by SDS-PAGE. It exhibited a pH and temperature optima of 5.4 and 50 °C respectively and under such conditions the enzyme remained stable with 96% and 63.8% residual activity after incubation for 12 h and 72 h respectively. The respective K _m and V _max values were 4.75 mM and 833.3 μmol min⁻¹ ml⁻¹, respectively. Response surface methodological statistical analysis was evaluated for the maximal production of fructose from the hydrolysis of pure commercial chicory inulin. Incubation of the dialyzed crude exoinulinase (100 U/ml, 48 h, 50 °C, 150% inulin, pH 5.0) produced the highest amount of fructose (106.4 mg/ml) under static batch conditions. The purified exoinulinase was evaluated for fructose production and the highest amount (98 mg/ml) was produced after 12 h incubation at 50 °C, 150% inulin pH 5.0. The use of a crude exoinulinase preparation is economically desirable and the industrial production of fructose from inulin hydrolysis is biotechnologically feasible.     

Determination of Sugars by LC with On-Line Electrogenerated Cu(HIO6)2]5−–Luminol Chemiluminescence Detection

A novel method was developed for the determination of sugars such as glucose, fructose and lactose by column liquid chromatography coupled with chemiluminescence detection. The LC separation used a Kromasil NH₂ column (250 × 4.6 mm, i.d.: 5 μm, pore size, 100 Å) with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water. The chemiluminescence detection was based on the enhancement effect of the selected sugars on the chemiluminescence intensity between luminol and [Cu(HIO₆)₂]^5?, which was on-line electrogenerated by constant current electrolysis. The limits of detection for determination of glucose, fructose and lactose were 4, 3 and 20 μg mL^?1, respectively. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the determination of glucose and fructose in grape samples and lactose in milk samples.     

Molecular aspects of glucose dehydration by chromium chlorides in ionic liquids

A combined experimental and computational study of the ionic‐liquid‐mediated dehydration of glucose and fructose by Cr^II and Cr^III chlorides has been performed. The ability of chromium to selectively dehydrate glucose to 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in the ionic liquid 1‐ethyl‐3‐methyl imidazolium chloride does not depend on the oxidation state of chromium. Nevertheless, Cr^III exhibits higher activity and selectivity to HMF than Cr^II. Anhydrous CrCl₂ and CrCl₃?6 H₂O readily catalyze glucose dehydration with HMF yields of 60 and 72 %, respectively, after 3 h. Anhydrous CrCl₃ has a lower activity, because it only slowly dissolves in the reaction mixture. The transformation of glucose to HMF involves the formation of fructose as an intermediate. The exceptional catalytic performance of the chromium catalysts is explained by their unique ability to catalyze glucose to fructose isomerization and fructose to HMF dehydration with high selectivity. Side reactions leading to humins by means of condensation reactions take predominantly place during fructose dehydration. The higher HMF selectivity for Cr^III is tentatively explained by the higher activity in fructose dehydration compared to Cr^II. This limits the concentration of intermediates that are involved in bimolecular condensation reactions. Model DFT calculations indicate a substantially lower activation barrier for glucose isomerization by Cr^III compared to Cr^II. Qualitatively, glucose isomerization follows a similar mechanism for Cr^II and Cr^III. The mechanism involves ring opening of D ‐glucopyranose coordinated to a single Cr ion, followed by a transient self‐organization of catalytic chromium complexes that promotes the rate‐determining hydrogen‐shift step.     

Synthesis of Pb(OH)2/rGO Catalyst for Conversion of Sugar to Lactic Acid in Water

Conversion of sugars from biomass to platform chemicals or fuels is an attracting topic for the utilization of biomass. Pb²⁺ ion is an efficient catalyst for the degradation of sugar to lactic acid, and it will be better to fix lead on a solid catalyst to reduce the risk of exposure of Pb²⁺ to environment. Here, a simple method has been developed to prepare a composite catalyst of Pb(OH)₂/rGO, where the nanoparticles of Pb(OH)₂ in size of 2-5 nm were prepared and fixed over the as-prepared reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheets. The as-obtained catalyst showed an efficient catalytic activity to degrade glucose, fructose, and cellulose in aqueous solution, and the major product is lactic acid. The yield of lactic acid reached 58.7% when fructose was used as the feedstock (433 K and 2.5 MPa N₂), and the catalyst can be recycled with high activity. Cellulose can also be directly converted into lactic acid in aqueous solution over the catalyst without extra acid or alkali, and the maximum yield of lactic acid is 31.7%.     

NMR analysis of mono‐ and difructosyllactosucrose synthesized by 1F‐fructosyltransferase purified from roots of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.)

Two novel oligosaccharides, mono‐ and difructosyllactosucrose {[O‐β‐D ‐fructofuranosyl‐(2 → 1)]_n‐β‐D ‐fructofuranosyl‐O‐[β‐D ‐galactopyranosyl‐(1 → 4)]‐α‐D ‐glucopyranoside, n = 1 and 2} were synthesized using 1^F‐fructosyltransferase purified form roots of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.). Their ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra were assigned using several NMR techniques. The spectral analysis was started from two anomeric methines of aldose units, galactose and glucose, since they showed separate characteristic signals in their ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra. After assignments of all the ¹H and ¹³C signals of two units of aldose, they were discriminated as galactose and glucose using proton–proton coupling constants. The HMBC spectrum revealed the galactose residue attached to C‐4 of glucose, fructose residue attached to the C‐1 of glucose, and further fructosyl fructose linkage extended from the glucosyl fructose residues. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multienzymatic Sucrose Conversion into Fructose and Gluconic Acid through Fed-Batch and Membrane-Continuous Processes

Multienzymatic conversion of sucrose into fructose and gluconic acid was studied through fed-batch and continuous (in a membrane reactor) processes. The law of substrate addition (sucrose or glucose) for the fed-batch process which led to a yield superior to 80% was the decreasing linear type, whose feeding rate (?; L/h) was calculated through the equation: ? = ?_o ? k.t, where ?_o (initial feeding rate, L/h), k (linear addition constant, L/h ²), and t (reaction time, h). In the continuous process, the yield of conversion of sucrose (Y) was superior to 70% under the following conditions: dilution rate?=?0.33 h^?1, total duration of 15 h, pH 5.0, 37 °C and initial sucrose concentration of 64 g/L (Y?=?92%), 100 g/L (Y?=?83%), or 150 g/L (Y?=?76%).     

Covalent Immobilization and Characterization of a Novel Pullulanase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fontibacillus</Emphasis> sp. Strain DSHK 107 onto Florisil® and Nano-silica for Pullulan Hydrolysis

A novel pullulanase partially purified from Fontibacillus sp. was covalently immobilized on Florisil® and nano-silica through both glutaraldehyde and (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane spacer arms. The pullulanase immobilized on Florisil® and nano-silica through glutaraldehyde spacer arm showed 85 and 190 % activity of its free form, respectively, whereas no activity was observed when it was immobilized on the same supports through (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane spacer arm. The maximum working pHs of both the immobilized pullulanases on Florisil® and nano-silica through glutaraldehyde spacer arm were determined as 5.0; however, the maximum working pH of the free pullulanase was pH 6.0. The maximum temperatures of all the pullulanase preparations were determined as 35 °C. The apparent K _m values were 1.49, 1.54, and 0.59 mg/mL pullunan, respectively, for the free and immobilized pullulanases on Florisil® and nano-silica. The corresponding apparent V _max values were 0.59, 1.53, and 1.57 U mg prot.^?1?min.^?1. Thermal stability of pullulanases immobilized on Florisil® and nano-silica was enhanced 6.5- and 15.6-folds, respectively at 35 °C and 6.6- and 16.0-folds, respectively, at 50 °C. The pullulanases immobilized on Florisil® and nano-silica protected 71 and 90 % of their initial activities after 10 reuses.