Continuous conversion of sucrose to fructose and gluconic acid by immobilized yeast cell multienzyme complex

A multienzyme complex consisting of invertase, glucose oxidase, and catalase was reconstituted by binding glucose oxidase using concanavalin A (Con A) to the cell wall of Sacchararomyces cerevisiae , previously induced for maximal activities of invertase and catalase. The cell flocculate obtained was stabilized by entrapment in polyacrylamide using γ irradiation at 100 kR. This complex showed a shortening of the lag period and enhancement in gluconic acid production as compared to a similar mixture of soluble enzymes. The efficacy of the multienzyme complex has been compared with that of mixed multienzyme system composed of individually immobilized enzymes. The immobilized multienzyme complex in a continuous‐flow stirred‐tank reactor system could be operated for continuous conversion of sucrose to fructose and gluconic acid. The reactor system did not show any loss in efficiency in a continuous operation over 20 days.