DETERMINATION OF KINETICS PARAMETERS FOR FREE AND IMMOBILIZED BETA-GALACTOSIDASE

The kinetic parameters of soluble and immobilized beta-galactosidase o f Kluyveromyces fragilis were determined using integrated reaction rat e equations. Three reaction rate models were used to correlate experim ental values by means of a multi-response non-linear computer program. The deviations of the fitted models to the data were compared using a residual sum of squares and F-test for nested models. The Michaelis-M enten equation predicted the best values with product inhibition by ga lactose and provided the most reasonable approach to describe the enzy mic hydrolysis of lactose for low and high conversion in a range of in itial concentrations from 2.5 to 15.0%.