Zymomonas mobilis as catalyst for the biotechnological production of sorbitol and gluconic acid

Abstract

The conversion of glucose and fructose into gluconic acid (GA) and sorbitol (SOR) was conducted in a batch reactor with free (CTAB-treated or not) or immobilized cells of Zymomonas mobilis. High yields (more than 90%) of gluconic acid and sorbitol were attained at initial substrate concentration of 600 g/L (glucose plus fructose at 1:1 ratio), using cells with glucose-fructose-oxidoreductase activity of 75 U/L. The concentration of the products varied hyperbolically with time according to the equations (GA)=t(GA)(max)/(W(GA) +t), (SOR)=t (SOR)(max)/(W(Sor)+t), v(GA)=[W(GA) (GA)(max)]/(W(GA)+t)(2) and V(SOR)=[W(SOR) (SOR)(max)]/(W(SOR)+t)(2). Taking the test carried out with free CTAB-treated cells as an example, the constant parameters were (GA)(max)= 541 g/L, (SOR)(max)=552 g/L, W(GA)=4.8h, W(SOR)=4.9h, upsilon(GA)=112.7 g/L. and upsilon(SOR)=112.7 g/L.