Dilatometric studies in the enzymic hydrolysis of polysaccharides

Summary

• 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.