Vacuum assisted membrane bioreactor for enzymatic hydrolysis of pectin from various agro-wastes

Hydrolysis of pectins extracted from sugar beet, black currant, and red currant were studied by Aspergillus niger polygalacturonase enzyme and strong product inhibition was found. A thermostated membrane bioreactor was applied for the reaction to avoid inhibition and vacuum was used in the permeate side resulting higher product removal rate (flux) and productivity.

Based on our experimental results with enzymatic pectin hydrolysis in vacuum assisted membrane bioreactor specific productivity values (related to the enzyme concentration) were determined. We have found that (i) higher productivity was managed to achieve for all the pectin substrates compared to the traditional shaking flask, batch processes due to the elimination of product inhibition; (ii) higher flux and higher effectiveness were obtained in this system than in the membrane bioreactor The research work was supported by GAK (MEMBRAN5) project, grant No. OMFB00971/2005.