Factors Affecting the Composition of Oligosaccharides Produced in Chitosan Hydrolysis Using Immobilized Chitosanases

The hydrolysis reaction of chitosan using immobilized chitosanases with regard to the composition of its products and the yield of the intermediate target products, pentamer and hexamer of chitosan oligosaccharides, was investigated. Chitosanase was immobilized onto agar or agarose gel particles by the multipoint attachment method. In batch experiments, surface enzyme density, support particle size, temperature, agitator speed, and initial substrate concentration significantly affected the composition of the oligosaccharides produced. It was believed that these factors all related to the reaction rate and mass transfer rate at the surface of the support materials immobilizing the enzymes. These effects were summarized as a correlation with Damkohler number (Da), defined as the ratio of the maximum reaction rate to the maximum mass transfer rate. The result showed that the reaction conditions that give a low value of Da provide a high yield of pentamer and hexamer oligosaccharides.