Dilatometric studies in the enzymic hydrolysis of polysaccharides Part I. Hydrolysis of inulin

Abstract

1. The kinetics of the enzymic hydrolysis of inulin has been followed in the two-bulbed dilatometer and also by an estimation of the fructose released by Bertrand's method. 2. For a given concentration of substrate, inulin hydrolysis is accompanied by a greater depression of volume than that obtained for starch hydrolysis. It is suggested that systems involving the release of fructose during hydrolysis suffer a greater volume depression; this is well illustrated by the difference in volume occurring during the hydrolysis of maltose and sucrose. 3. The dilatometric depression per millimol release of fructose during the hydrolysis of inulin is 7·9 mm³ (average value) and is independent of the concentration of the inulin employed. Errors involved in the early stages of the reaction are indicated.