Process for producing d-mannitol
OwnerNiklas Von Weymarn, Ulla Airaksineninventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
High concentration of free cells of heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in a resting or slowly growing state are used to convert fructose into mannitol. Efficient volumetric mannitol productivities and mannitol yields from fructose are achieved in a process applying cell-recycle, continuous stirred tank reactor and/or circulation techniques with native LAB cells or with LAB cells with inactivated fructokinase gene(s). Mannitol is recovered in high yield and purity with the aid of evaporation and cooling crystallization.
Claims25
A process for the production of mannitol by bioconversion, comprising the steps of
- bringing a high initial concentration of free, mannitol-producing lactic acid bacterial cells into contact with a low-nutrient medium supplemented with a substrate convertible into mannitol, and a cosubstrate, in a bioreactor system,
- performing the bioconversion under conditions suitable for converting said substrate into mannitol,
- separating the bacterial cells from the medium by filtration to obtain a cell-free solution,
- recovering from the cell-free solution the mannitol produced, and
- reusing the separated bacterial cells in the bioreactor system.
A bacterial strain of the genus Lactobacillus or Leuconostoc, in which the fructokinase enzyme(s) is/are inactivated.
Use of a bacterial strain of the genus Lactobacillus or Leuconostoc, in which the fructokinase enzyme(s) is/are inactivated, for producing mannitol.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.