Chapter 22, Problem 24P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The understanding of the specificity of bacterial oxidation for commercial synthesis of the compound vitamin C is to be explained.

Concept Introduction:

▸ The chemical name for vitamin C is L-ascorbic acid. It is obtained commercially by converting the D-sorbitol into the L-ascorbic acid with the formation of an $2-\text{keto}-\text{L}-\text{gluconic acid}$ as its intermediate.

▸ The process involves two major steps which are the formation of $\text{L}-\text{sorbose}$ form $\text{D}-\text{glucose}$ and the second is the bacterial oxidation of D-Glucitol by the use of a microorganism, A. suboxydans.