Continuous recycle enzymatic membrane reactor system for in-situ production of pure and sterile glucose solution

In this study, an efficient Continuous Recycle Enzymic Membrane Reactor (CREMR) system for prodn. of in-situ glucose soln. was developed and the Simultaneous Gelatinization, Liquefaction and Saccharification (SGLS) carried out at temps. below 60 DegC, is proposed to replace the conventional starch hydrolysis. Using a 30 kD polysulfone hollow fiber membrane and 10% (wt./wt.) tapioca starch concn., it is found that during the steady state continuous operation, the SGLS process in the CREMR at temps. of 55 and 60 DegC and trans-membrane pressures of 0.5 and 1 bar has produced a steady state glucose concn. in the permeate stream as high as 64 g L-1 over a period of eight hours operation. The glucose soln. obtained is of high purity greater than 99.9% and sterile, hence can be utilized as i.v. dripping soln. and other medical products without post-treatments. In addn., the CREMR system is also relatively easy to scale-up, has a smaller footprint c.f. conventional systems, thus allowing in-situ prodn. [on SciFinder (R)]