Investigation of production of dextran and dextransucrase by Leuconostoc mesenteroides immobilized within porous stainless steel

Cells of Leuconostoc mesenteroides were immobilized within porus, stainless‐steel (SS) supports and used for dextransucrase (DS) and dextran production. The pore size of the support significantly affected the dextran yields, which were greatest with average pore sizes of 2‐5 μm. All immobilized‐cell biocatalysts in porous stainless steel produced higher yields than free cells, with the exception of cells confined in submicrometer pores (0.5 μm). Coating supports of larger pore size (40 and 100 μm) with calcium alginate enhanced the cell‐loading capacity of the supports and increased dextran and fructose yields in the cell‐free broth. Controlled, fed‐batch, DS production (activation), as a step preliminary to dextran production, significantly improved the subsequent dextran and fructose yields and shortened the time required to attain the maximum such yields. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of immobilized L. mesenteroides in stainless steel shows an irregular pattern of the microorganism inside the pores of the solid supports. Coating the porous solid supports with a cell‐free calcium alginate layer led to an increase in the cell density inside the support. Cell growth inside the coated, porous stainless steel had no distinct growth form. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.