Effect of concentration and substrate flow rate on isomaltulose production from sucrose by Erwinia sp. cells immobilized in calcium-alginate using packed bed reactor.

Isomaltulose was obtained from sucrose solution by immobilized cells of Erwinia sp. D12 using a batch and a continuous process. Parameters for sucrose conversion into isomaltulose were evaluated using both experimental design and response surface methodology. Erwinia sp. D12 cells were immobilized in different alginates, and the influence of substrate flow rate and concentration parameters to produce isomaltulose from sucrose were observed. Response surface methodology demonstrated that packed bed columns containing cells immobilized in low-viscosity sodium alginate (250 cP) presented a mean isomaltulose conversion rate of 47%. In a continuous process, both sucrose substrate concentration and substrate flow rate parameters had a significant effect (p < 0.05) and influenced the conversion of sucrose into isomaltulose. Higher conversion rates of sucrose into isomaltulose, from 53-75% were obtained using 75 g of immobilized cells at a substrate flow rate of 0.6 mL/min.