Abstract
The use of polymeric derivatives of phenylboronic acid (PBA) as an effective means for specific in situ product removal of ketoses from aldose-containing reaction mixtures, strongly depends on the retention of selective binding of ketoses exhibited by soluble PBA and 3-amino PBA, by their polymeric, water insoluble analogs. In this communication we demonstrate that immobilization chemistry has a strong effect on ketose preferred binding by polymeric PBA derivatives. Our results indicate that for the preparation of an effective and more specific adsorbent, 3-amino PBA should be coupled to the polymeric carrier via alkylamino chemistry and not via the commonly employed amido derivative. Immobilized alkylamino-PBA exhibited selective fructose and xylulose binding throughout glucose and xylose isomerization processes at the pH range of 7.0–8.0. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 75: 25–28, 2001.