Enzymatic Oxidation Industrial Process and Prospects

Agitation, fermentation pressure, and aeration are important factors governing the oxidation rate. An increase in any of these operating variables is accompanied by an increase in the rate of sugar utilization. However, foam formation, a typical problem of enzymatic catalysis, increases with agitation and aeration rate. Thus, more antifoam agent is required in the case of high reaction rate. 

As a compromise, the following conditions have been adopted aeration, 1.5 volumes per minute per volume of medium agitation, 220 rpm and fermentation pressure, 2 atm. 

Sodium gluconate can be recovered by either crystallization or drying. For most applications, the less expensive drum drying process is adopted. In each case, the 

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