Effect of Cross-Linking Agents on L-Sorbose Production by Immobilized Gluconobacter suboxydans Cells

Biological oxidation of D-sorbitol to L-sorbose using permeated and immobilized cells of Gluconobacter suboxydans was carried out to investigate the optimum reaction condition. The stabilization effect of cross-linking agents such as glutaraldehyde, tannic acid, and polyethylene imine to prevent the leakage of enzymes from beads containing permeated and immobilized cells of G. suboxydans was examined by the production of L-sorbose from the mixture of D-sorbitol and gluconic acid. The protein concentration effused from immobilized beads treated with only glutaraldehyde was $5.2\mug/m\ell$ after 20 h. The beads of G. suboxydans immobilized with alginate and cross-linked with 0.3% glutaraldehyde was the most useful for the oxidation of D-sorbitol to L-sorbose.