STUDIES ON THE APPLICABILITY OF ALGINATE-ENTRAPPED NARINGINASE FOR THE DEBITTERING OF KINNOW JUICE

Screening of matrices for the immobilization of naringinase demonstrat ed that 2% sodium alginate was an optimal matrix. Upon immobilization, 30 U of naringinase gave 82% naringin hydrolysis in 3 h, broadening o f pH optima has attributed desirable flexibility for debittering kinno w juice of varying pHs, and temperature profiles indicated on improved thermostability which could be handy during the reduction in cost of debittering. Alginate permitted attainment of equilibrium readily with no hindrance in the inflow of naringin and the outflow of naringenin/ prunin, and adequate mechanical stability, cumulatively indicating the feasibility of its commercial exploitation. The application of kineti c parameters optimized with pure naringin to kinnow juice resulted in 60% debittering. It suggested the desirability of ultrafiltration to m inimize product inhibition in order to maximize naringin hydrolysis, a nd subsequent fortification by the permeate at the end of debittering to formulate sweetened kinnow juice with nourishing and natural charac teristics. Efforts to change over from the batch process to a continuo us column process are underway.