Unstructured model proposal for the microbial oxidation of d-sorbitol to l-sorbose

The genus Gluconobacter and its applications in biotechnology

Organisms of the genus Gluconobacter have been widely utilized within the biotechnology industry for many decades, due to their unique metabolic characteristics. The metabolic features that render Gluconobacter so useful in biotransformation processes, vitamin synthesis, and, as the biological element in sensor systems, are critically evaluated, and the relevance of recent biochemical genetic studies to current and future industrial Gluconobacter processes is discussed. The impact of recombinant gene technology on the status of Gluconobacter processes and the potential use of such techniques in clarifying aspects of the physiology of Gluconobacter is reviewed.

Productivity enhancement in l-sorbose fermentation using oxygen vector

Sorbose, an intermediate of Vitamin-C is produced by biological oxidation of sorbitol by Acetobacter suboxydans. The utility of oxygen vector (N-hexadecane) in enhancing the sorbose accumulation and its productivity was examined for sorbitol to sorbose bioconversion process. Shake flask fermentations were conducted using 1% to 6% (v/v) N-hexadecane. Higher sorbose production was observed in shake flask containing 1-4% N-hexadecane as compared to shake flasks without N-hexadecane. A maximum of 82.12 kgm(-)(3) sorbose accumulated in 24 h by the addition of 4% N-hexadecane as against 64.83 kgm(-)(3) sorbose without the addition of N-hexadecane. However, the concentration of sorbose produced in the same time decreased when 5% and 6% N-hexadecane were used. Batch sorbose fermentation conducted using 4% N-hexadecane demonstrated decrease in the process time from 14 h to 12 h. The productivity increased from 14.3 kgm(-)(3) h(-)(1) to 16.7 kgm(-)(3) h(-)(1) when 4% N-hexadecane was used. Fed-batch fermentation using 4% N-hexadecane was over in 20 h with a productivity of 15.9 kgm(-)(3) h(-)(1), and a sorbose accumulation of 311.68 kgm(-)(3) was obtained. The same fed-batch fermentation finished in 25 h when no N-hexadecane was used. A productivity of 12.6 kgm(-)(3) h(-)(1) and a final sorbose accumulation of 316 kgm(-)(3) were obtained. The increase in productivity and lower process time were achieved by the addition of N-hexadecane to the fermentation medium.