Technological watch

Mechanistic kinetic modeling via three different kinetic approaches is studied and evaluated for the biocatalyzed synthesis of galacto?oligosaccharides, with the mechanistic kinetics approach being a promising method. An information criterion (AIC) is used as tool for comparative description and pro and cons of each approach are shown. The galacto?oligosaccharide synthesis by ??galactosidase from Bacillus circulans is described mathematically using three kinetic models of different complexity?–?a simple power law approach, an extended Michaelis Menten kinetics and, in particular, an advanced, innovative mechanistic kinetic model for biocatalysis. Based on a detailed experimental study, a comprehensive reaction network is identified, and a reliable database provided. The evaluation of the kinetic models studied is performed by the Akaike information criterion, which allows the assessment of the model accuracy taking into account complexity and transferability.