Carbohydrates energy cost

Catalysis represents a possible tool to convert selectively carbohydrates through environmentally friendlier processes. Homogeneous catalysts are widely used in industry mainly because of their high activity, thus allowing a minimization of energy, cost, and labor. However, these catalytic processes present some problems... 

Sophisticated models attempt to relate microbial yield to the rate of carbohydrate fermentation and rate of passage, the theoretical growth rate, the energy cost of bacterial maintenance and the form of nitrogen available to the rumen microorganisms. Many of the relationships involved in such calculations are based on laboratory characterisation of the food, and the value of the model will depend on the validity of the relationships between the laboratory determinations and the values used in the models. 

Carbohydrate stores are wet and bulky and their energy density is low. They are useful for emergencies and short-term requirements, but are not a cost-effective fuel for longer-term requirements (see Table 2.2). 

The com symps of this type find very extensive use in the manufacture of a wide variety of foods, in which they provide a highly purified carbohydrate as a source of human energy, sweetness, and unique textural characteristics at low cost. The almost complete absence of flavors other than sweetness is a valuable attribute of these symps. 

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