Hydrolysis of starch was carried out by a blend of individually entrapped glucoamylase and pullulanase (in calcium alginate beads) in the ratio of 3:2 (activity wise). The individually entrapped enzymes show enhanced thermostability at 55degreesC. The mixture of the immobilized enzymes could be used both in packed as well as fluidized bed formats to obtain DE values of 95 and 96, respectively. It is shown that this is more efficient than using glucoamylase alone or adding the two enzymes in a sequential fashion, since in the latter approach, the products of the first enzyme inhibit the second enzyme. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.