Industrial Biotransformations

Thermolysin
Bacillus thermoproteolyticus
3) Flow scheme
Fig. 3.4.24.27 – 3
4) Process parameters
selectivity: > 99.9 %
ee: > 99.9 %
reactor type: batch
capacity: ~ 10,000 t a –1 worldwide; ~ 2,500 t a –1 by enzymatic coupling
down stream processing: filtration
start-up date: 1988
company: DSM, The Netherlands
5) Product application
● Aspartame is used as a low-calorie sweeteener in food, including soft drinks, table-top sweeteners,
dairy products, instant mixes, dressings, jams, confectionery, toppings and in pharmaceuticals.
● Aspartame is a sweetener which is 200 times sweeter than sucrose.
● It was first approved in France in 1979.
● The first trademark was Nutrasweet TM (by Monsanto).
EC 3.4.24.27
375