In the seventies large amounts of fructose have been produced from starch by isomerization of glucose. An alternative source of fructose is inulin, present as energy reserve in plants, e. g. from the composite family such as chicory and Jerusalem artichoke. To produce fructose from inulin a hydrolysis step is necessary. This can be performed by acids, but enzyme hydrolysis is preferable because of lower byproduct formation. An enzyme specially suited for industrial application is described. Full hydrolysis of inulin more than 98% (fructose and glucose) can be achieved at 60–65°C using economical dosages of enzyme. The reasons for the special efficiency of the enzyme are touched upon.
The enzymatic isomerization of glacose to fructose is attracting significant attention f r o m scientific as well as industrial quarters. In recent years, high fructose syrups ("isosyrups") produced b y enzymatic isomerization of high DE-syrups have been introduced successfully, primarily i n the U.S.A.A decisive factor for the ability of isosyrups t o compete is enzyme costs. T h e development of immobilized glucose isomerase makes multiple use of the enzyme possible and thus makes the econom y of the isomerization process more attractive.Sweetzyme is the trade name of an immobilized glucose isomerase. i%e enzyme is presently being marketed for batchlre-use isomerization. A special quality suited for continuous column plug-flow isomerization is under development. T h e properties of the t w o qualities and conditions for use in batch and column isomerization processes are described.
An important and often critical factor in the design and operation if fixed bed reactors is the ability of the catalyst material to resist bed pressure drop. Most immobilized enzyme products are compressible when exposed to pressure. In a fixed bed column the pressure drop will increase progressively with bedheigth. Moreover, deformation of the particles may continue with time, so this factor has to be taken into consideration, too.
This paper deals with the prediction of pressure drop over an bed of immobilized glucose isomerase by simulating different locations in larger columns by the help of smaller lab‐apparatus. The experimental data are submitted to empirical numerical analysis and compared with results from pilot plant columns (2–3 m bedheight). The laboratory apparatus and correlations outlined in the paper provide a convenient and relatively quick method for evaluating mechanical properties of enzyme preparations relevant for their use in industrial reactors.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.