Immobilized α‐amylase from Bacillus licheniformis: a potential enzymic time—temperature integrator for thermal processing

Summar Biphasic and nth‐order models were tested as to their usefulness to fit experimental inactivation data of Bacillus licheniformisα‐amylase, immobilized on glass beads, and were discussed with respect to their suitability to characterize the considered enzymic system as a time—temperature integrator (TTI) to evaluate heat processes. Both isothermal and non‐isothermal inactivation experiments were carried out. Model (kinetic) parameters (rate constant k, activation energy EA and reaction order n) were estimated using a non‐linear regression procedure. The results obtained, especially the activation energy of about 293 kJ mole–1, indicated a potential use of this system as a TTI for heating processes in the temperature range of 96–108°C.