Glucose, or dextrose, is a monosaccharide. Animals and plants both use this simple sugar as a source of energy. During the Napoleonic wars in the early 1800s, honey and sugar supplies became scarce. The search for an alternative sweetener led to the discovery that enzymes could break down starch into glucose, and the glucose industry was born. In food manufacturing, glucose imparts a sweet flavor to candies, jams, chewing gum and soft drinks. When baked in foods, glucose caramelizes and gives bread crusts a golden brown color. Glucose is a versatile product, however, and is useful for applications that go beyond cooking.
Step 1
Treat instances of hypoglycemia with oral glucose. Hypoglycemia is a diabetic emergency, and your doctor will determine the correct level of glucose for you to use.
Step 2
Make your own beer by fermenting glucose with brewer's yeast. Yeast contains enzymes that breakdown the glucose into ethanol and carbon dioxide.
Step 3
Produce citric acid by fermenting glucose with the fungus Aspergillus niger. The manufacture of soft drinks and candies uses citric acid for its tart flavor.
Step 4
Create a vegan protein by growing the edible fungus Fusarium graminearium in glucose. Texturizing this mycoprotein and adding flavorings makes it a tasty meat substitute.
Step 5
Produce the flavorful amino acid monosodium glutamate, or MSG, by fermenting glucose with the bacteria Micrococcus glutarnicus. MSG is a common flavor ingredient in Chinese food.
Step 6
Use the classical Reichstein process to produce vitamin C from glucose. First, hydrogenate glucose to produce sorbitol, and then ferment it with Acetobacter suboxdans to produce l-sorbose. A further oxidizing and acid treatment produces L-ascorbic acid, or vitamin C.
Step 7
Prevent pernicious anemia by making vitamin B-12 from glucose. Fermenting glucose with the bacteria Streptomyces olivaceus, Streptomyces griseus or Lactobacillus lactis produces vitamin B-12.
Things You'll Need
- glucose syrup
- bacteria culture
- fungal culture
References
- "Glucose Syrups: Technology and Applications"; Peter Hull; March 2010
- Drugs.com: Insta-Glucose
- Practical Chemistry: Fermentation of Glucose Using Yeast
