Production of chitooligosaccharides using an ultrafiltration membrane reactor and their antibacterial activity

To increase the solubility of chitosan in an aqueous solution and to facili tate its utilization, the enzymatic production of chitooligosaccharides wit h a high degree of polymerization (DP) was carried out using an ultrafiltra tion (UF) membrane reactor system. 80% of the oligosaccharides produced wer e in the range DP3-6. Compared with a batch reactor, in the UF membrane rea ctor system, at least 11 batches of substrate could be hydrolysed for the s ame quantity of chitosanuse. Oligosaccharides obtained using the reactor sy stem showed antibacterial activity and a 0.5% concentration completely inhi bited the growth of Escherichia coli. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.