EVALUATION OF THE CATALYTIC EFFICIENCY OF MICROBIAL CELLS IMMOBILIZED ON 3D SUPPORT FOR THE ENZYMATIC PRODUCTION OF FRUCTOOLIGOSACCHARIDES IN BATCH MODE

The development of robust biocatalysts for the production of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) has been continuously improved, given the commercial interest in obtaining these oligomers due to their nutraceutical properties. In this context, the immobilization of fungal cells containing fructosyltransferase enzymes (FTase, E.C.2.4.1.9), capable of catalyzing the transfructosilation reaction of sucrose molecules, has advantages over the use of soluble enzymes, as they provide greater stability, reduce enzymatic inhibition and allow the reuse of biocatalysts. Studies involving different configurations of supports aim to obtain biocatalysts with greater thermal and mechanical resistance and prolonged operational stability. The use of 3D technology makes it possible to manufacture customized and high-precision immobilization supports, making it fast and efficient to test and optimize different geometries, size, volume and pore distribution in the material. Therefore, this work evaluated the reuse and catalytic efficiency of biocatalysts, obtained by immobilizing Aspergillus oryzae IPT-301 cells in cubic polylactic acid (PLA) supports, manufactured by 3D printing, when subjected to consecutive reaction cycles in batch mode. Microbial cells were produced and immobilized in PLA supports (1.0 cm edge) by cell culture submerged in synthetic culture medium (pH 5.5), at 200 rpm, 30 ºC for 32 h. For the operational stability tests, the biocatalysts were placed in a reaction medium containing 3.7 mL of sucrose solution P.A