This paper presents an enzymatic process for sorbitol and gluconic acid production using cells of Zymomonas mobilis permeabilized with CTAB. Equimolar solutions of glucose and fructose (from 96.0 to 422.2 g/L) were used. In a batch reactor, conversions of 97% were attained after 15 to 20 hours of reaction. The effect of the initial concentration of the substrates was evaluated in experiments using 20% more and 20% less glucose than fructose. It was observed that the reaction performed with more fructose reached completion faster and with a higher value of conversion
Sorbitol; gluconic acid; Zymomonas mobilis; permeabilized cells; glucose-fructose oxidoreductase
