Last week, the start-up project Sweethoven Biotech carried out what is probably the largest enzymatic synthesis ever carried out at the University of Bonn as part of its BMBF-funded third-party project. Dr. Marcel Hövels and Dr. André Neff produced their sweet-tasting dietary fibre on a 500-litre scale with the help of their bio-catalyst, for which a patent application has been filed. 180 kg of sugar were converted into the verifiably non-glycemic, fibre-based sugar alternative within just 16 hours at a mild 35 °C. Only 800 mL of the microbial production platform developed at the IFMB was needed to produce sufficient enzyme quantities for the 500 L synthesis (the chemical industry hates them for this trick). The material was then filtered and transported to Lyon (France), 750 km to the southwest, where the sweet dietary fiber is purified by the chromatography experts at Applexion SAS.
This milestone will enable far-reaching pilot tests with well-known food manufacturers in the first quarter of the year, who are showing great interest in testing the sugar alternative developed at the IFMB in their recipes.
Microbiology on a large scale Microbiology on a large scale
With the support of the BMBF, Sweethoven Biotech has probably carried out the largest enzymatic synthesis at the University of Bonn and produced a novel, non-glycemic sugar alternative on a 500-liter scale, which is now being prepared for pilot tests with food manufacturers.
Microbiology on a large scale
© Marcel Hövels
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Links
- https://www.ifmb.uni-bonn.de/en/about-us/news/rg-caspari-obtains-dfg-funding-and-is-recruiting-a-doctoral-researcher
- https://www.ifmb.uni-bonn.de/en/about-us/news/exciting-trip-to-the-microbiology-lab-with-rg-scherer