Enzymatic removal of flatulence-inducing sugars in chickpea milk using free and polyvinyl alcohol immobilized alpha-galactosidase from Aspergillus oryzae.

The treatment of chickpea milk was carried out in batch, repeated batch and continuous reaction by soluble and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) immobilized Aspergillus oryzae alpha-galactosidase for the removal of raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs). In the batch mode of treatment 96 and 92% of RFOs hydrolysis was observed by soluble and immobilized enzyme, respectively. In repeated batch experiments, immobilized enzyme showed 70% RFOs hydrolysis up to sixth cycle. Polyvinyl alcohol immobilized alpha-galactosidase in fluidized bed reactor showed highest reduction of 94% at a flow rate of 30 ml/h. The results obtained from the present study are very interesting for industrial use of PVA-immobilized enzyme.