Isomaltulose production from sucrose by Protaminobacter rubrum immobilized in calcium alginate.

Different culture conditions for Protaminobacter rubrum and enzymatic reaction parameters were evaluated with the goal of improving isomaltulose production. P. rubrum was grown in a medium with 1% (w/v) cane molasses and 0.5% yeast extract and achieved a maximum cell yield Y(x/s) of 0.295 g of cells/g sucrose and a specific growth rate (mu) of 0.192 h(-1). The immobilization of P. rubrum cells was carried out with calcium alginate, glutaraldehyde and polyethyleneimine. Stabile immobilized cell pellets were obtained and used 24 times in batch processes. Enzymatic conversion was carried out at different sucrose concentrations and in pH 6 medium with 70% (w/v) sucrose at 30 degrees C an isomaltulose yield of 89-94% (w/v) was obtained. The specific activity of the P. rubrum immobilized pellets in calcium alginate at 30 degrees C ranged from 1.6 to 4.0 g isomaltulose g(-1) pellet h(-1), respectively with 70% and 65% sucrose solution, while in lower sucrose concentration had higher specific activities presumably due to substrate inhibition of the isomaltulose synthase in higher sucrose concentrations.

Evaluation of bacterial contamination in a fed-batch alcoholic fermentation process.

Alcoholic fermentation by a commercial baker's yeast in a fed-batch process with cell recycling and high-test molasses as substrate was strongly inhibited by Lactobacillus fermentum CCT 1407 after a few recycles. When total acidity (mainly lactic acid) exceeded 4.8 g/l broth it seriously interfered with yeast bud formation and viability and above 6.0 g/l it decreased alcoholic efficiency.