Continuous production of high-content fructooligosaccharides by a complex cell system

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Biochemical Engineering
• Food Science

Background:

• Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are important prebiotics with significant health benefits.
• Efficient and scalable production methods for high-purity FOS are crucial for industrial applications.
• Previous methods often face challenges with yield, purity, and continuous processing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a continuous biocatalyst system for high-content fructooligosaccharides (FOS) production.
• To optimize the process using a complex cell system and a microfiltration (MF) module.
• To evaluate the system's efficiency, productivity, and stability over an extended period.

Main Methods:

• Employed a continuous process using a bioreactor with a microfiltration (MF) module.
• Utilized a complex cell system comprising Aspergillus japonicus or Aureobasidium pullulans (beta-fructofuranosidase) and Gluconobacter oxydans (glucose dehydrogenase).
• Optimized substrate concentration (30% sucrose), pH (5.5), temperature (30°C), and aeration (5 vvm).

Main Results:

• Achieved a continuous production of FOS with a content exceeding 80% on a dry weight basis.
• The remaining components were primarily glucose (5-7%) and sucrose (8-10%), with minimal calcium gluconate.
• Demonstrated a stable 7-day continuous operation with a dilution rate of 0.04 h⁻¹, yielding over 160 g L⁻¹ h⁻¹ volumetric productivity for total FOS.

Conclusions:

• The developed complex biocatalyst system with MF module is highly effective for continuous, high-content FOS production.
• The system offers significant advantages in terms of yield, purity, and productivity compared to conventional methods.
• This approach provides a scalable and efficient platform for industrial-scale prebiotic FOS manufacturing.