Use of some new poly-phenolic resins for fractionation of carbohydrates and immobilisation of carbohydrate hydrolases and isomerases

Abstract

New matrices, exhibiting selective adsorption of polymeric carbohydrates, have been synthesised by copolymerisation of hydroquinone and other phenolic compounds with formaldehyde or glutaraldehyde. These gel-type resins are capable of separating high molecular weight polysaccharides from low molecular weight oligosaccharides and monosaccharides, and branched from unbranched polysaccharides. The formaldehyde–hydroquinone resin is also an effective matrix for the simple and rapid immobilisation of various enzymes and (other) proteins. It is therefore additionally suitable for the separation of proteins from low molecular weight peptides and amino-acids. α-Amylase, glucoamylase, and D-glucose isomerase immobilised on the resins retain their activity incontinuous use. Since the resin matrices are highly porous and hydrophilic, they allow high flow rates to be achieved when used in packed-bed reactors. Both the formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde types of resin are cheap and easy to produce, relatively non-toxic in preparation and use, porous, hydrophilic, and extremely stable to changes in temperature and pH.