| abstract |
This invention relates to a process of producing a new amylase by cultivating a strain of the particular seven species of Streptomyces; Streptomyces albus, Streptomyces aureofaciens, Streptomyces hygroscopicus, Streptomyces hygroscopicus var. angustomyceticus, Streptomyces viridochromogenes, Streptomyces flavus and Streptomyces tosaensis. These new amylases produced by the above particular species, respectively have some enzymatic activities and characteristics which are much more useful and advantageous in producing a higher yield of maltose from starch and amylose, as compared to the use of the known amylases. The starch hydrolyzate which is obtained by reacting the new amylase with starch in aqueous dispersion contains a predominant proportion of maltose and is useful as a natural sweetening material. Further, this starch hydrolyzate mainly composed of maltose is converted into a mixture of sugar alcohols mainly composed of maltitol by hydrogenating in the presence of a nickel catalyst. |