Conversion of Liquified Starch into Glucose Using a Novel Glucoamylase System

Abstract

AbstractThe production of sweeteners from starch by enzymes has been commercially successful for many years. However, the real need for improving the current industrial processes for bioconversion of starch, which is chiefly obtained from the wet milling of corn, into the monosaccharides glucose and fructose still exists. Currently, most starch processing in the corn wet milling industry is achieved by using the enzymes α‐amylase, amyloglucosidase and glucose isomerase. This lecture deals with the production of glucose from dextrins by means of amyloglucosidase systems. The amyloglucosidase preparations commonly applied in industry are mixtures containing various enzymes. The maximum obtainable conversion of dextrins into glucose is determined by the thermodynamic and kinetic behaviour of the enzymes present in the amyloglucosidase mixtures. Therefore, knowledge of the composition and properties of the enzymes may lead to the decision to alter the composition of the enzyme system as a possible means of improving the glucose production process. In the search for various amylolytic components advanced chromatography techniques were applied and the enzymes found were used in saccharification studies.