Abstract
The use of Jerusalem artichoke containing $\beta$-1, 2-fructose oligomer for the production of D-sorbitol and L-sorbose has been studied. The employment of inulinase(0.398%, v/v) for the hydrolysis of 40% (v/w) Jerusalem artichoke juice resulted in 36.7g/1 of glucose and 85.3g/1 of fructose at $50^{\circ}C$. These sugars were utilized as substrates for D-sorbitol and L-sorbose production. Coimmobilization of inulinase and permeabilized cells of Zymomonas mobilis in the mixture of chitin (5%, w/e) and x-carrageenan(4%, w/v) resulted in the production of 30.2g/1 of D-sorbitol by using inulin as a substrate. The process of L-sorbose production from D-sorbitol by Gluconobacter suboxydans was optimized with respect to the substrate concentration, level of dissolved oxygen and glucosic and concentration. Gluconlc acid produced by Zymomonas mobilis from glucose was found to inhibit Gluconobacter suboxtans in conversion of D-sorbitol to L-sorbose. In view of removing such inhibitory effect by gluconic acid, mutants were selected by the NTG (N-methyl-N'-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidlne) treated method. Mutants selected by NTG mutagenesis showed no inhibitory effects of gluconic acrid against L-sorbone production when its concentration increased up to 100g/1. A mutant produced 40.1g/l of L-sorbose in the medium containing 100g/l D-sorbitol and 100g/l-gluconic acid. This result is consider able when compared with L-sorbose concentration (21.7g/1) obtained from the fermentation with wild type strain of Gluconobacter suboxnians.