Optimised Powder Dextranase for cane sugar processing

Introduction

• Dextran is produced by microorganisms which infect the cane and feed on the sucrose; therefore, the presence of dextran immediately indicates lost sugar. The bacteria are mainly Leuconostoc species and are ubiquitous in the soil. They enter the cane at places of exposed tissue caused by machine harvesting, cutting, burning, growth, freezing, disease and pests. Any delay in the cut to crushing time allows the bacteria to proliferate and the dextran levels to soar, especially in wet muddy cane.
•  In sugar production, dextrans are undesirable compounds increasing the viscosity of the flow and reducing industrial recovery, bringing about significant losses. The use of the dextranase enzyme is the most efficient method for hydrolyzing the dextrans at sugar mills.
•  Effect of Dextrans in Sugar production:
• Summary of the detrimental effects of dextran in terms of the resulting losses:
• Production losses
• Sucrose losses
• Direct financial losses due to operational inefficiencies due to high viscosity of syrup
• Increased viscosity leads to reduced throughput due to poor filterability, reduced evaporation rate, reduced flocculation rate, slow mud settling and poor crystallization causing elongation of crystals
• Description 
• Dextrasol XP, a fungal dextranase (E.C. 3.2.1.11, 1,6-alpha-D-glucan 6-glucanohydrolase) is produced in powder form using controlled SSF process using a non GMP fungal strain. The enzyme is an endo-dextranase capable of randomly hydrolyzing the interior alpha-1,6-glucosidic linkages of dextran and its degradation products. Dextrasol XP-XP reduces the viscosity of syrups caused by high molecular weight dextrans. Initial hydrolysis of Dextrans by Dextrasol XP-XP generates soluble polysaccharides and oligosaccharides of varying lengths. Further continuing hydrolysis with Dextrasol XP-XP results in the formation of glucose and lower levels of isomaltose and isomaltotriose.