Lucyna Słomińska

Studies on enzymatic continuous production of cyclodextrins in an ultrafiltration membrane bioreactor

Studies on simultaneous hydrolysis of starch and synthesis of cyclodextrins by Thermo-aerobacter cyclodextrin glucosyltransferase were conducted in an ultrafiltration membrane bioreactor, allowing enzyme recovery and reduction of product inhibition. The influence of various reaction parameters like starch concentration, enzyme dosage and residence time on cyclodextrin composition was tested. A comparison of batch and continuous cyclodextrin production indicates that employing an ultrafiltration membrane bioreactor increases process efficiency.

Influence of heating time and pressure treatment of potato starch on the generation of radicals: EPR studies

The influence of heating time and pressurizing time under pressure of 1 GPa on radicals generation in potato starch polymer was investigated by EPR. Potato starch was heated at two temperatures: 413 ± 2 K (140 °C) and 473 ± 2 K (200 °C) for 15, 30, 60, 120, 180, 240, 270 and 300 min and subdued to pressurizing under pressure of 1 ± 0.002 GPa for 6, 60, 300 and 1440 min. In starch heated at 413 K (140 °C) a decrease in the relative intensity of the EPR signal as a function of the pressurizing time can be observed, whereas in starch heated at 473 K (200 °C) such a decrease is not observed. The EPR spectra analysis indicates that they are powder spectra due to the paramagnetic centers leading to Lorentzian line shapes with weak spectroscopic splitting factor g anisotropies and linewidth anisotropies. We have shown that pressurization of starch causes a decrease in the number of radicals in a temperature range in which the polymer is not yet disintegrated. The results of the EPR investigations indicate the existence of a carbon radical center situated at the carbon C1 of the glucose ring. In the EPR spectra of the samples heated with no oxygen access, the hyperfine structure is poorly visible. In the registered EPR spectra of the samples heated with oxygen access, the hyperfine structure is not observed.

The unconventional single stage hydrolysis of potato starch

Abstract Enzymatic depolymerisation of starch to glucose or maltose is carried out by starch- degrading amylases during a two-stage hydrolysis: liquefaction using bacterial α-amylase followed by saccharification with glucogenic (fungal amylase) or maltogenic (fungal or bacterial) amylases. As a rule, these enzymes are applied separately, following the recommendations concerning their action provided by the enzyme manufacturers. The study presents our attempts to determine the reaction conditions for a simultaneous action of liquefying and saccharifying enzymes on pre-treated potato starch. Hydrolysis was run by Liquozyme Supra, Maltogenase 4000L and San Super 360L enzymes (Novozymes) at different temperatures. During the single-stage method of starch hydrolysate production the most desirable results was obtained for the maltose hydrolysate at 80°C (51.6 DE) and for the glucose hydrolysate at 60°C (96 DE). The analyses indicate that the application of a single-stage hydrolysis of starch to maltose or glucose makes it possible to obtain a degree of starch saccharification comparable with that obtained in the traditional two-stage hydrolysis.

High pressure impact on changes in potato starch granules

Abstract Air dry potato starch (84.9% d.s.) was subjected to pressurizing under the pressure of 50, 100, 250, 500, 750, 1000 and 2000 MPa for 1 h. The physical properties of pressurized starch, such as morphology, surface and crystalline structure, gelatinization parameters, were studied by means of scanning and atomic force microscopy (SEM/AFM), X-ray diffraction (X-ray), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The susceptibility to the amylolytic enzyme (α-amylase) was also measured. Application of pressure in the range of 50–2000 MPa results in an increase in the compressed potato starch bulk density, change in the contours of the granules from oval to polyhedral, increase in the roughness of the granule surface, vanishing of the X-ray reflexes generated by the orthogonal structure and weakening of the reflexes generated by the hexagonal structure, lowering of the enthalpy of starch gelatinization, and the enhancement of hydrolytic susceptibility of starch granules to the amylolytic enzyme.