Use of Glucose Oxidase in a Membrane Reactor for Gluconic Acid Production

This article aims at the evaluation of the catalytic performance of glucose oxidase (GO) (EC.1.1.3.4) for the glucose/gluconic acid conversion in the ultrafiltration cell type membrane reactor (MB-CSTR). The reactor was coupled with a Millipore ultrafiltration-membrane (cutoff of 100 kDa) and operated for 24 h under agitation of 100 rpm, pH 5.5, and 30 degrees C. The experimental conditions varied were the glucose concentration (2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 20.0, and 40.0 mM), the feeding rate (0.5, 1.0, 3.0, and 6.0/h), dissolved oxygen (8.0 and 16.0 mg/L), GO concentration (2.5, 5.0, 10.0, and 20.0 U(GO)/mL), and the glucose oxidase/catalase activity ratio (U(GO)/U(CAT))(1:0, 1:10, 1:20, and 1:30). A conversion yield of 80% and specific reaction rate of 40 x 10(-4) mmol/h x U(GO) were attained when the process was carried out under the following conditions: D =3.0/h, dissolved oxygen =16.0 mg/L, [G] =40 mM, and (U(GO)/U(CAT)) =1:20. A simplified model for explaining the inhibition of GO activity by hydrogen peroxide, formed during the glucose/gluconic acid conversion, was presented.