Sorbitol and gluconic acid production using permeabilized zymomonas mobilis cells confined by hollow-fiber membranes.

Immobilization of Zymomonas mobilis by different methods was investigated. Experiments were performed in order to choose the most appropriate support for the immobilization of the cells. The most advantageous option was to use permeabilized cells in the bore of microporous hollow fibers. Whereas the reaction rate was about 33 g of gluconate/(g of protein x h) using hollow fibers, which is comparable to that observed by using free cells, the calcium alginate immobilized cells presented a reaction rate of 4 g of gluconate/(g of protein x h). These results can be explained by the mass transfer resistance effect, which, indeed, was much lower in the case of hollow-fiber membranes than in the alginate gel beads. A loss of enzymatic activity during the reaction was observed in all experiments, which was attributed to the lactone produced as an intermediate of the reaction.