https://doi.org/10.17113/ftb.60.01.22.6994

Immobilization of Providencia stuartii Cells in Pumice Stone and Its Application for N-Acetylglucosamine Production

Yuniwaty Halim^1*, Devianita Devianita¹, Hardoko Hardoko^1,2, Ratna Handayani¹ and Lucia C. Soedirga¹

¹Food Technology Department, Universitas Pelita Harapan, Jl. M.H. Thamrin Boulevard, Lippo Karawaci, Tangerang 15811, Indonesia

²Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Brawijaya University, Jl. Veteran No. 1, Malang 65113, Indonesia

Article history:

Received: 1 October 2020

Accepted: 12 November 2021

Keywords:

cell immobilization; chitin degradation; N-acetylglucosamine production; Providencia stuartii; pumice stone; repeated fermentation

Summary:

Research background. Shrimp shells contain chitin that can be further processed into N-acetylglucosamine, which has been extensively used to treat joint damage. Providencia stuartii has a strong chitinolytic activity and may be utilized in the form of immobilized cells in repeated fermentation. Pumice is a porous and rigid stone that offers superior mechanical strength, making it suitable for immobilization.

Experimental approach. In the research submerged fermentation with different pumice stone sizes and pumice stone/growth medium ratios (m/V) was carried out for 4 days at 37 °C and pH=7.0. The optimum pumice stone size and pumice stone/growth medium ratio (m/V) were used to determine the optimum fermentation cycle for the production of N-acetylglucosamine using immobilized P. stuartii.

Results and conclusions. Pumice stones of 1.0 cm×1.0 cm×1.0 cm and pumice stone/growth medium ratio of 1:5 were found to be the optimum conditions for successful immobilization of (90.0±1.6) % cells and production of (331.4±7.3) g/L N-acetylglucosamine. The highest N-acetylglucosamine concentration of (323.0±2.5) g/L was obtained in the first fermentation cycle, which then decreased and remained stable throughout the last three cycles.

Novelty and scientific contribution. P. stuartii, a strong chitinolytic bacterium previously isolated from rotten shrimp shells, was used for the first time in immobilized form to produce N-acetylglucosamine. The findings in this research showed the potential use of P. stuartii cells immobilized in pumice stone for continuous production of N-acetylglucosamine in repeated fermentation.