Practical Process Conditions for the Use of Immobilized Glucose Isomerase

Abstract

AbstractThe present world‐wide rush into the production of high fructose corn syrups has increased the demand for the enzym glucose isomerase for the isomerization process. Economics have forced producers of these sweeteners to use the immobilized enzyme in a continuous process. The most suitable way of performing continuous isomerization turned out to be a process in a fixed‐bed column. However, a downflow mode of the substrate through the enzyme bed required special properties of the beads, especially when using very high enzyme beds.Practical process conditions are described for the use of immobilized Maxazyme glucose isomerase in a continuous fixed‐bed column operation procedure, e. g. pH, temperature, concentration of activators, quality of the substrate and enzyme bed dimensions. Special attention is paid to compressibility of the enzyme particles and the characteristical pressure drop of this product. Improvements are described for the production of this immobilized enzyme, which make it possible to use Maxazyme Gl‐Immob in columns up to 5 m bed height.