CHITOSANASE PRODUCTION BY ALCALIGENES FAECALIS IMMOBILIZED IN CALCIUM ALGINATE GEL BEADS

Abstract

Alcaligenes faecalis cells were immobilized in calcium alginate gel beads and employed for production of chitosanase by repeated batch processes. The activity of the immobilized cells increased with extending the culture period, and reached a maximum, 3.6U/ml in 6 days. This value corresponded to about 1/3 of that of free cells. In repeated batch experiments the activity of the immobilized cells increased gradually in the early cycles, and it decreased slightly after the four cycle. Chitosanase was produced by the immobilized cells in an enzyme production medium containing 0.1% glucose, 0.5% peptone, 0.1% yeast extract, 0.1% KH₂PO₄, 0.02%MgSO₄•7H₂O, 0.1%NaCl, 0.5%CaCl₂•H₂O and 0.5% colloidal chitosan.