• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.422-429
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• 1992

The effect of various water-activity depressors, such as pol yo Is, sugars, and polymers, on the conversion yields of the enzymatic synthesis of maltosyl-$\beta$-cyclodextrin from $\beta$-cyc1odextrin and maltose through reverse reaction of pullulanase was investigated. PEG 6000 of concentration of 10% (w/w) was found to be the most acceptable water-activity depressor resulting for increment of conversion yield from 43.0% to 55.9%, corresponding maltosyl-$\beta$-cyc1odextrin concentration of 3.02 g/100 ml H20. Water activity was changed from initial 0.966 to 0.914 upon addition of 20% (w/w) of PEG 6000. The conversion yields were inversely proportional to the water activities, and the increased conversion yield was caused by water activity depression which inhibited the hydrolysis reaction of maltosyl-$\beta$-CD to maltose and $\beta$-cyc1odextrin. The changes of enthalpy ($\Delta$H), entropy ($\Delta$S), and Gibbs free energy ($\Delta$G) were calculated to be 36.788 kJ/mole, 0.067 kJ/mole K. and 14.433 kJ/mole, respectively. The synthesis of maltosyl-$\beta$-CD could be increased substantially by the intermittent feeding of $\beta$-cyclodextrin. PEG 6000 could be separated effectively from reaction mixture using ultrafiltration membrane for reutilization.