On-line monitoring of monosaccharides and ethanol during a fermentation by microdialysis sampling, liquid chromatography and two amperometric biosensors

Computing the Composition of Ethanol-Water Mixtures Based on Experimental Density and Temperature Measurements

Two correlations were developed to calculate the composition of binary ethanol-water solutions from experimental temperature and density inputs. The first correlation is based on a Redlich-Kister (R-K) expansion and computes mixture composition within an average accuracy of ±0.45 wt.%. The R-K model is a non-linear function of composition and therefore requires the use of an iterative solving tool. A polynomial correlation was additionally developed which utilizes a direct solving method, and computes ethanol composition over a range of 0–100 wt.% [283.15–313.15 K] with an accuracy better than ±0.37 wt.%. The polynomial model is particularly advantageous as it can be tailored to specific composition ranges for increased accuracy. Both correlations are intended to provide a method for monitoring ethanol concentration within a chemical process in real time without off-line sample analysis, allowing for precise in-situ system control and optimization.

Liquid chromatographic profiling of monosaccharide concentrations in complex cell-culture media and fermentation broths

A solid phase extraction, liquid chromatography and fluorescence (SPE-RPLC-FL) based protocol for the determination of free monosaccharides in highly complex raw material powders and formulated fermentation feedstocks and broths has been developed. Monosaccharides within sample extracts were derivatised pre-column with anthranilic acid and the derivatives separated using reversed-phase LC with fluorescence detection. Using a 2.1 mm × 50 mm 1.8 µm Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C18 column, a flow rate of 0.4 mL min-1 and an acetonitrile gradient in a sodium acetate buffer (pH 4.3; 50 mmol L-1) the baseline resolution of glucosamine, mannosamine, galactosamine, galactose, mannose, glucose, ribose, xylose, fucose and sialic acid within 20 minutes was achieved. Pre-column derivatisation involved combining a 30 mg mL-1 solution of anthranilic acid in a 1 : 1 ratio with an aqueous standard prior to injection. Standard analytical performance criteria were used for evaluation purposes, with the method found to exhibit LOD's as low as 10 fmol, and be linear and precise (%RSD < 2.2% (n = 7). The method was applied to the analysis of a range of highly complex biopharmaceutical production samples, including yeastolate powders, chemically defined media and in-process fermentation broth samples. Sample preparation involved passing an aqueous sample through a C18 solid phase extraction cartridge to trap hydrophobic peptides and vitamins, with recovery of all test sugars exceeding 90%. Finally, standard statistical analysis was performed on samples taken from different lots in order to estimate lot-to-lot variability.

Pyranose dehydrogenases: biochemical features and perspectives of technological applications

Pyranose dehydrogenase is a fungal flavin-dependent sugar oxidoreductase which is structurally and catalytically related to fungal pyranose oxidase and cellobiose dehydrogenase and probably fulfills similar biological functions in lignocellulose breakdown. It is a monomeric secretory glycoprotein and is limited to a rather small group of litter-decomposing basidiomycetes. Compared with pyranose oxidase, it displays broader substrate specificity and a variable regioselectivity and is unable to utilize oxygen as electron acceptor using substituted benzoquinones and (organo) metallic ions instead. Depending on the structure of the sugar in pyranose form (mono/di/oligosaccharide or glycoside) and the enzyme source, selective monooxidations at C-1, C-2, C-3, or dioxidations at C-2,3 or C-3,4 of the molecule to the corresponding aldonolactones (C-1), or (di)dehydrosugars (aldos(di)uloses) can be performed. These features make pyranose dehydrogenase a promising and versatile biocatalyst for production of highly reactive, sometimes unique, di- and tri-carbonyl sugar derivatives that may serve as interesting chiral intermediates for the synthesis of rare sugars, novel drugs, and fine chemicals.

Electroanalytical Flow Measurements

A review based on 94 cited original papers describes recent achievements in application of different electrochemical detection in flow analysis, injection techniques of flow analysis, liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis.

Graphite-Teflon composite bienzyme amperometric biosensors for monitoring of alcohols

Composite graphite-Teflon electrodes, in which the enzymes alcohol oxidase (AOD) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP), as well as the mediator ferrocene, are incorporated into the electrode matrix, are reported for the reliable monitoring of alcohols in food and beverages. The bienzyme electrodes are constructed by simple physical inclusion of the enzymes and the mediator in the bulk of graphite-70% Teflon rigid cylindrical pellets. The composite biosensors are robust and reusable because of the renewability of the electrode surface by polishing. Reproducible amperometric responses at 0.00 V were obtained with different electrodes constructed from the same pellet and from different pellets. No significant loss of the enzymes activities was found after at least 3 months of storage at 0 degrees C. The detection limits obtained by amperometry in stirred solutions can be advantageously compared with those achieved with commercial sensors for alcohols. The bienzyme electrodes are suitable to be used under flow-injection conditions, as well as for amperometric detection in HPLC. The bioelectrodes were employed for the determination of ethanol in beers, wines and liquors, using both batch- and flow-injection modes, and for the determination of methanol in wines and liquors by HPLC with amperometric detection. Only a dilution of the beverages was needed as sample treatment in all cases.

An acetylcholinesterase/choline oxidase-based amperometric biosensors as a liquid chromatography detector for acetylcholine and choline determination in brain tissue homogenates

A liquid chromatography (LC) detector based on a fast response and sensitive bienzyme amperometric biosensor for acetylcholine (ACh) and choline (Ch) is described. The detector fabrication consisted of glutaraldehyde co-crosslinking of acetylcholinesterase and choline oxidase with bovine serum albumin on the Pt working electrode of a conventional thin-layer electrochemical flow cell. The influence of some experimental parameters (e.g., enzyme loading, thickness of the bienzyme layer, flow rate) on the detector characteristics has been studied in order to optimize the analyte response while minimizing band-broadening and distortion. A mobile phase consisting of a phosphate buffer (I, 0.1 M; pH, 6.5) containing 5 mM sodium hexane sulfonate and 10 mM tetramethylammonium phosphate was found to give very satisfactory resolution and peak shape in ion-pair, reversed-phase LC. Linear responses were observed over at least four decades and absolute detection limits (at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3) were 12 and 27 fmol injected for Ch and ACh, respectively. After one month of intensive use in the LC system, the detector retained about 70% of its initial sensitivity. The potential of the described approach is demonstrated by the simultaneous determination of Ch and ACh in rat brain tissue homogenates.

Role of chromatography in the analysis of sugars, carboxylic acids and amino acids in food

An overview is presented of chromatographic methods currently in use to determine sugars, carboxylic acids and amino acids in foods: high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and capillary electrophoresis. As a basis of selection the following approaches can be distinguished: quantitation of constituents of several food matrices, without derivatization and in the form of different derivatives, in the presence of the matrix, or subsequently to various work-up procedures.