In this experiment we will learn
- What is lactose intolerance and immobilised lactase (in Part 1).
- How to make "Lactose free milk" (in Part 2).
- Using glucose strips to follow the increase of production of glucose over time (in Part 3).
In Part 1: • Lactose intolerance: I...
Lactose is problematic to 75% of the population worldwide. That's due to the lack of lactase enzyme in the lining of the small intestine. As a result, when those people consume milk or dairies, which contain lactose (disaccharide), the lack of the enzyme lactase results in fermentation of the lactose in the intestine, which causes gases, bloating, diarhea, and stomack cramp.
This is why lactose intolerant people have to consume lactose free products.
In these videos, I will show you step by step how to hydrolyse lactose in milk using a) free lactase enzyme, and b) immobilised lactase.
In Part 2: • Lactose intolerance: I...
The steps in making immobilised lactase are as follows:
Firstly, we prepare lactase solution (Lac), then add sodium alginate (Alg) to the enzyme to form a gel-enzyme solution (Alg-Lac). The alginate-lactase solution (Alg-Lac) will be added drop by drop using a syringe to a cold solution of calcium chloride (hardner) to produce solid beads of alginate containing lactase (immobilised lactase). Finally, we will test the effect of adding immobilised lactase to milk, where the lactase enzyme will hydrolyse the lactose in the milk to galactose and glucose. Glucose strips were used to follow the development of colour due to the increase of glucose content in milk over time.