Description
Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) namely, kestose, nystose and
fructofuranosylnystose, are prebiotics that can be obtained by fermentation. The
resulting fermentative broth is a complex mixture consisting also of salts and
other sugars that must be removed. Adsorption equilibrium studies were
conducted using the static method in batch mode onto Dowex Monosphere
calcium resin, at 60ºC, for FOS contained in a fermentative broth and pure
mixtures. Experimental isotherms data were analyzed using linear,
Langmuir/anti-Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich & Peterson, and Toth models.
Isotherm parameters were determined using linear and nonlinear correlations
for the minimization of several error functions. The nonlinear correlations were
found to provide the best isotherm parameters for the models. FOS contained in
a fermentative broth were well fitted with anti-Langmuir isotherms, while FOS in
pure mixtures were better fitted with Toth, Langmuir and Redlich & Peterson
isotherms. A detailed error analysis was carried out to investigate the effect of
using different error criteria for the determination of the isotherm parameters.
; Vaňková, K. 
