Comparative analysis of different whole cell immobilized aspergillus niger catalysts for gluconic acid fermentation using pretreated cane molasses

To compare the efficiency of various whole cell immobilization techniques for the production of gluconic acid by Aspergillus niger were investigated using potassium ferrocyanide-treated cane molasses as the substrate. The techniques followed were:

(1)	Calcium alginate entrapment,
(2)	cross-linking with glutaraldehyde after cell permeabilization with (a) acetone, (b) toluene and (c) isopropanol and
(3)	development of granular catalyst.

A comparative analysis of yield has revealed that calcium alginate entrapment was the most suitable technique as it had given the maximum product yield (0.40 g gluconic acid/g total reducing sugar supplied). The properties of immobilized A.niger in sodium alginate gel have been thoroughly investigated and compared with those of free cells under most suitable conditions of fermentation.