In the heart of China’s Hubei province, researchers at the Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Jingchu University of Technology, are brewing up a storm with their latest findings on hawthorn enzyme fermentation. Led by MIAO Yuanxin, the team has been delving into the optimization of fermentation technology, with promising results that could ripple through the energy sector and beyond.
The study, published in ‘Shipin yu Jixie’ (Food and Machinery), focuses on harnessing the power of mixed strains of Lactobacillus plantarum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae to create a high-activity hawthorn enzyme. The goal? To unlock the enzyme’s potential in various industrial applications, particularly in the energy sector.
The research team meticulously studied the effects of various fermentation parameters, including solid-liquid ratio, inoculant number of mixed strains, initial sugar degree, fermentation time, and temperature. Their findings revealed that the optimal conditions for hawthorn enzyme production are a liquid-solid ratio of 1:3 (g/mL), an inoculated amount of mixed fermentation strains of 5.5‰, an initial sugar content of 11.4%, a fermentation time of 102 hours, and a fermentation temperature of 32°C.
Under these conditions, the hawthorn enzyme exhibited impressive results: an acidity of (21.82±0.26) mg/mL, a soluble solids content of (10.75±0.29)%, and a superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of (26.45±0.31) U/mL. These findings are a testament to the potential of hawthorn enzyme in various industrial applications.
The research also revealed that hawthorn enzyme has a notable scavenging ability on DPPH·, ABTS·, and ·OH, as well as some pancreatic lipase inhibitory activities. This could have significant implications for the energy sector, where enzymes are increasingly being used to enhance biofuel production and improve energy efficiency.
Miao Yuanxin, the lead author of the study, emphasized the importance of these findings. “The optimization of fermentation technology for hawthorn enzyme production opens up new avenues for its application in various industries, including the energy sector,” he said. “The enzyme’s antioxidant and pancreatic lipase inhibitory activities make it a promising candidate for enhancing biofuel production and improving energy efficiency.”
The study’s findings could shape future developments in the field of enzyme technology, paving the way for more efficient and sustainable industrial processes. As the world continues to seek sustainable energy solutions, the potential of hawthorn enzyme in the energy sector is a promising avenue for exploration. The research team’s work, published in ‘Shipin yu Jixie’ (Food and Machinery), is a significant step forward in this direction, offering a glimpse into the future of enzyme technology and its potential to revolutionize the energy sector.