Immobilization of pectinex ultra sp-l pectinase and its application to production of fructooligosaccharides

Pectinex Ultra SP-L, a commercial pectinase with fructosyl-transferase (FTF) activity, is able to catalyze the production of short chain fructooligosaccharides (FOS). It was immobilized onto an anion exchange resin by a combined method. The optimal biocatalyst/matrix ratio (16.7 g enzyme solution/g dry support) as well as the most favourable conditions of the immobilization: the concentration of cross-linking agent (0.125%) and the time of chemical fixation (15 min) have been determined. The temperature and pH optima of the solid-phase biocatalyst have been found 53 °C and 5.6, respectively. It showed almost no decrease in its activity during 12 reaction cycles. Based on these results, lab-scale synthesis experiments have been carried out for fructooligosaccharide production under the determined optimal operational conditions.