Research on the Influence of Technological Parameters and Comparative Evaluation of Methods for Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Inulin-containing Raw Materials

Introduction: Prebiotic oligosaccharides are increasingly attracting the attention of researchers due to their numerous nutraceutical and health-promoting properties and are of significant interest for research aimed at their implementation in the food industry. In the Russian Federation, the main source of raw material for industrial inulin production is the tuberous sunflower (Helianthus tuberosus L.), which is distinguished by its high protein content. This fact presents technological difficulties during its processing. Traditionally, enzymatic hydrolysis has been the predominant method for producing inulin from plant materials to break down pectin and cellulose compounds. Of interest is the identification of the most effective enzymatic preparation that demonstrates the best performance under optimal processing parameters for inulin-containing raw material substrates.

Purpose:  To evaluate the effectiveness of various types of enzymatic preparations for modifying the carbohydrate composition of inulin-containing raw material extracts and to determine the optimal parameters for pre-processing.

Materials and Methods: The enzymatic complexes Pectolux and Cellolux BGK were used as a standard in the study; the effect of the enzymatic complex Biozyme Plus was investigated as an alternative. The object of the study was an aqueous extract from dried and crushed Jerusalem artichoke tubers of the Omskiy Bely variety, obtained from a substrate pre-treated with enzyme preparations. The research methods included determining the mass fraction of dry matter and refractometric analysis of the extracts. The carbohydrate composition of the extracts was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography using a standard sample of a carbohydrate mixture (glucose, fructose, sucrose) for calibration and evaluation of the obtained values. A comparison of the quality indicators of the obtained extracts was carried out through organoleptic evaluation according to three characteristics: color, transparency, and opalescence. The kinetics of the extraction process were studied with varying enzyme dosages and hydromodule, at temperatures ranging from 40 to 80°C, and extraction times ranging from 20 to 60 minutes.

Results: A comprehensive analysis of the physicochemical characteristics and carbohydrate composition of the control and test extracts revealed significant differences in inulin content and quality indicators. Samples treated with Cellolux BGK and Biozyme Plus differed in their degree of opalescence but had a lighter, yellowish hue. The extract treated with Pectolux had a straw color and high transparency. The volume of the extract doubled with Pectolux, and 1.6 times with the Cellolux BGK complex, compared to the control sample. At temperatures up to 50°C, the inulin content in the extract increases linearly, with no significant increase thereafter. However, at temperatures above 70°C, inulin hydrolysis occurs, breaking it down into di- and monosaccharides.

Conclusion: A laboratory experiment under controlled conditions was used to conduct a comparative analysis and evaluate the effectiveness of enzyme preparations of varying activity on the degree of hydrolysis and oligosaccharide formation from pectin and cellulose compounds in inulin-containing raw materials. The inulin concentration in the resulting extracts was 78–79%, indicating the high quality of the product. The results of the study, using Jerusalem artichoke tubers as an example, confirm the effectiveness of enzyme preparations. The obtained data open new prospects for the development of biotechnological processes and their economic efficiency.

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