Though there are different type of homogeneous (Mo, Ni) and heterogeneous (zeolites) catalysts are available for the production of rare sugars from bulk sugars, but still industries prefers biochemical process. What may be the reason?
These Enzymatic process are restricted to particular temperature, pH and purity of the reactants, but inorganic catalysts can overcome these limitations.
People reported different homogeneous inorganic catalyst during 1970 -80.
Can any one explain what is the main reason, why industries not adopting inorganic catalyst for the rare sugar production and still using Enzymes for that.
Thank you.
In general it is about specificity. Compared with most enyzmes, inorganic catalyst are not very specific. Another reason would be undesirable side reaction (of substrate or product) due to temperature during inorganic catalytic processes. Another would be food safety, it is generally easier to obtain product safety for approval if it is produced through biocatalytic conversion.
Hi there,
To go further in Nedim's way, I would add that enzyme are perfectly stereoselective and stereospecific which means the final product will be 100% pure according to its absolute configuration. Also you have to keep in mind that enzyme are much better catalysts than chemical catalysts and therefore yields are much better with enzymes. Finally you have the possibility to perform engineering on enzymes in order to change and improve their catalytic properties towards the substrates youy want to transform.
The question by Chethan is general in the sugars domain, as there is no specification to the desired sugar or the enzyme. The answers given by Nedim Albayrak and Dominique Liger are pertinent and appropriate. Enzyme Biocatalysis process is preferred, particularly due to the enzyme stereospecificity. In this, only the wished sugar can be obtained without any stereo-isomer.
Enzymes are specific in activity in contrast to inorganic activators.beside it does not have any adverse toxic effect on the process.
The answers given by Nedim Albayrak and Dominique Liger are correct. There are two major factors that are not addressed in these answers. Inorganic catalysts are often poisoned by nitrogen and sulfur, common components of proteins. As a result, the sugar stream going to the inorganic catalyst must have much higher purity than the streams normally obtained in industrial sugar processing. This additional purification significantly adds to the cost of the reaction. Inorganic catalysts require essentially 100% removal from the final product to meet quality specifications. Again, the cost of this removal and he analyses required o demonstrate the removal add significant cost. Having said this, it should be noted that inorganic catalysts are used in the hydrogenation of dextrose (glucose) to sorbitol and xylose to xylitol.
Thank you all for your detailed explainations.....
But I am wondering, Is it possible to replace the Enzymatic catalytic reaction with Inorganic catalysts?
The experimental reports says (Lab scale), the product selectivity, specificity is high in inorganic catalytic (zeolites) reaction with low production cost compared to enzymatic process. The 100% recovery of the catalyst also possible, so product can be used in food and pharmaceuticals.
In such case, why can't we use these catalyst for the production of rare sugars? Since satisfies all most all needs that industries looking for.
If not, in which direction we have to go, so that the outcome of the work doesn't stay on a paper but it should reach the people.
Thank you.....
Currently any process, chemical, biological or chemical-biological one that produces a desired product at a high recovery and is simple at application can be welcomed by industrials. So, I think you can propose your chemical process for production of your sugar to competent industry. It is convenient that your final product must be checked for Al3+ presence (eventually issued from the used zeolites). It must be Al-free.
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