Flow injection analysis system for monitoring of succinic acid in biotechnological processes

In this study, a flow injection analysis (FIA) system using a cartridge of immobilized isocitrate lyase (ICL) and isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH) was developed to monitor the concentrations of succinic acid in biotechnological processes. The ICL and ICDH immobilized on VA-Epoxy Biosynth E3-carrier had a good operational lifetime (up to 24 h) and storage stability (up to 30 days). The FIA system with the immobilized ICL/ICDH cartridge was characterized with respect to the factors affecting the activity of the immobilized enzymes, such as pH of carrier solution, temperature, sample matrix, etc. Optimal pH value of the immobilized enzymes was slightly shifted in the alkaline range, i.e. 9.0. Some components such as 10 g l−1 lactose, 3 g l−1 malate and 3 g l−1 oxaloacetate in sample solution had significant activating effects (more than 10%) on the response of the FIA system. But the activity of the immobilized ICL and ICDH was not largely influenced by some components like imidazole (1 mM), sodium azide (10 mM) and semicarbazide (2 g l−1) added to carrier buffer solution. The FIA system with an enzyme cartridge was applied to on-line monitor the concentrations of succinic acid in a continuously stirred reactor and a fermentation process of immobilized Escherichia coli, and showed good sensitivity and reliability of the FIA system developed in this work.