Microwave-assisted hydrolysis of Zymomonas mobilis levan envisaging oligofructan production.
Levan, a polysaccharide from Zymomonas mobilis, was hydrolyzed to obtain oligofructans or fructooligosaccharides with a degree of polymerization varying from 4 to 14. Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are short chain fructans that beneficially affects the host by selective stimulation of growth and activity of one or a number of bacteria including probiotic bacteria in the colon. The hydrolysis was performed in a microwave oven to shorten the reaction time. The experiments showed that it is possible to maximize selected oligomers by interrupting the hydrolysis at the due time. The results allow one to infer that the procedure may also be useful for production of oligomers from other polysaccharides.
de Paula
Valdemir Cordeiro
VC
Department of Antibiotics, Federal University of Pernambuco, 50.670-901 Recife - PE, Brazil.
Pinheiro
Irapuan Oliveira
IO
Lopes
Carlos Edison
CE
Calazans
Gli Cia Maria Torres
GC
D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D005630:Fructans / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008872:Microwaves; D017355:Zymomonas / Q000378:metabolism*
D005630:Fructans