Continuous production of maltotetraose using immobilized Pseudomonas stutzeri amylase

A continuous production process of maltotetraose was investigated by using immobilized maltotetraose (G(4))- forming amylase (1,4-alpha-D-glucan maltotetraohydrolase, EC3.2.1.60) from Pseudomonas stutzeri adsorbed on a macroporous hydrophobic resin. The maximum reaction rate was obtained at 55 degrees C and the activation energy of hydrolysis by immobilized G(4)-forming amylase was calculated to be 8.45 kcal/mol. The maltotetraose yield was greatly influenced by the flow rate of substrate solution, its concentration, and the immobilized enzyme activity. The newly defined factor "specific space velocity" was successfully introduced to normalize the operating parameters. Using this factor, the immobilized enzyme reactor then can be simulated and the operating dynamics can be determined.