Immobilization of a Thermostable Cellobiose 2-Epimerase fromRhodothermus marinusJCM9785 and Continuous Production of Epilactose

Cellobiose 2-epimerase (CE) efficiently forms epilactose which has several beneficial biological functions. A thermostable CE from Rhodothermus marinus was immobilized on Duolite A568 and packed into a column. Lactose (100 g/L) was supplied to the reactor, kept at 50 °C at a space velocity of 8 h(-1). The epilactose concentration of the resulting eluate was 30 g/L, and this was maintained for 13 d.