Kinetic and mass transfer parameters of maltotriose hydrolysis catalyzed by glucoamylase immobilized on macroporous silica and wrapped in pectin gel.

Abstract

Kinetic and mass transport parameters were estimated for maltotriose hydrolysis using glucoamylase immobilized on macroporous silica and wrapped in pectin gel at 30 degrees C. Free enzyme assays were used to obtain the intrinsic kinetic parameters of a Michaelis-Menten equation, with product inhibition by glucose. The uptake method, based on transient experimental data, was employed in the estimation of mass transfer parameters. Effective diffusivities of maltotriose in pectin gel were estimated by fitting a classical diffusion model to experimental data of maltotriose diffusion into particles of pectin gel in the absence of silica. The effective diffusivities of maltotriose in silica were obtained after fitting a bidisperse model to experimental data of maltotriose hydrolysis using glucoamylase immobilized in silica and wrapped in pectin gel.