Steady-state generation of hydrogen peroxide: kinetics and stability of alcohol oxidase immobilized on nanoporous alumina

Alcohol oxidase from Pichia pastoris was immobilized on nanoporous aluminium oxide membranes by silanization and activation by carbonyldiimidazole to create a flow-through enzyme reactor. Kinetic analysis of the hydrogen peroxide generation was carried out for a number of alcohols using a subsequent reaction with horseradish peroxidase and ABTS. The activity data for the immobilized enzyme showed a general similarity with literature data in solution, and the reactor could generate 80 mmol H₂O₂/h per litre reactor volume. Horseradish peroxidase was immobilized by the same technique to construct bienzymatic modular reactors. These were used in both single pass mode and circulating mode. Pulsed injections of methanol resulted in a linear relation between response and concentration, allowing quantitative concentration measurement. The immobilized alcohol oxidase retained 58 % of initial activity after 3 weeks of storage and repeated use.     

Adsorption of peroxidase on Celite 545 directly from ammonium sulfate fractionated white radish (Raphanus sativus) proteins

This paper demonstrates the direct immobilization of peroxidase from ammonium sulfate fractionated white radish proteins on an inorganic support, Celite 545. The adsorbed peroxidase was crosslinked by using glutaraldehyde. The activity yield for white radish peroxidase was adsorbed on Celite 545 was 70% and this activity was decreased and remained 60% of the initial activity after crosslinking by glutaraldehyde. The pH and temperature-optima for both soluble and immobilized peroxidase was at pH 5.5 and 40°C. Immobilized peroxidase retained higher stability against heat and water-miscible organic solvents. In the presence of 5.0 mM mercuric chloride, immobilized white radish peroxidase retained 41% of its initial activity while the free enzyme lost 93% activity. Soluble enzyme lost 61% of its initial activity while immobilized peroxidase retained 86% of the original activity when exposed to 0.02 mM sodium azide for 1 h. The K_m values were 0.056 and 0.07 mM for free and immobilized enzyme, respectively. Immobilized white radish peroxidase exhibited lower V_max as compared to the soluble enzyme. Immobilized peroxidase preparation showed better storage stability as compared to its soluble counterpart.     

Study of support materials for sol-gel immobilized lipase

Abstract

A variety of support materials for sol-gel immobilized lipase were considered based on their ability to provide superior sol-gel adhesion, load protein, and synthesize methyl oleate. A standard approach was developed to formulate the supported lipase sol-gels and to allow comparison of the resulting hybrid materials. These supported sol-gels are proposed as an alternative immobilization regime to overcome some challenges associated with enzymatic biodiesel production such as enzyme stability and cost. The support materials considered were 6–12 mesh silica gel, Celite^® R633, Celite^® R632, Celite^® R647, anion-exchange resin AG3-X4, and Quartzel^® felt. Each support material exhibited unique properties that would be beneficial for this application including: Quartzel^® felt had the highest initial sol-gel capacity (62.5 mL/g) and sol-gel adhesion (1100 mg sol-gel/g material); silica gel had the most uniform coating of deposited sol-gel; the anion-exchange resin AG3-X4 supported sol-gel had the highest protein loading (1060 μg lipase/g) and reaction rate [1.25 mM/(min g-material)]; the Celite^® support series were the most thermally stable and had the lowest water content; and the Celite^® R632 supported lipase sol-gels had the highest 6 h biodiesel conversion per gram of supported material (68%) and enzymatic activity [9.4 mmol/(min g-lipase)]. The supported sol-gels with the highest enzymatic properties (conversion, activity, and reaction rate) were those supported on Celite^® R632, anion-exchange resin AG3-X4, and Quartzel^®. These supported sol-gels had superior performance in comparison with the unsupported sol-gels. Based on this study, the lipase sol-gel support material with the most potential for biodiesel production is Celite^® R632.     

Tyrosine hydroxylase activity of immobilized tyrosinase on enzacryl-AA and CPG-AA supports: Stabilization and properties

Frog epidermis tyrosinase has been immobilized on Enzacryl-AA (a polyacrylamide-based support) and CPG(zirclad)-Arylamine (a controlled pore glass support) in order to stabilize the tyrosine hydroxylase activity of the enzyme; in this way, the immobilized enzyme could be used to synthesize L-dopa from L-tyrosine. The activity immobilization yield Y(IME) (act) (higher than 86%), coupling efficiency (up to 90%), storage stability (no loss in 120 days), and reaction stability (t(1/2) was higher than 20 h in column reactors) were measured for tyrosinase after its immobilization. The results showed a noticeable improvement (in immobilization yield, coupling efficiency, and storage and operational stabilities) over previous reports in which tyrosinase was immobilized for L-dopa production. The activity and stability of immobilized enzyme preparations working in three different reactor types have been compared when used in equivalent conditions with respect to a new proposed parameter of the reactor (R(p)), which allows different reactor configurations to be related to the productivity of the reactor during its useful life time. The characteristic reaction inactivation which soluble tyrosinase shows after a short reaction time has been avoided by immobilization, and the stabilization was enhanced by the presence of ascorbate. However, another inactivation process appeared after a prolonged use of the immobilized enzyme. The effects of reactor type and operating conditions on immobilized enzyme activity and stability are discussed.     

Gentisate dioxygenase activity in immobilized cell-free extracts prepared from Salmonella typhimurium

Cell-free extracts of Salmonella typhimurium containing gentisate dioxygenase were immobilized by entrapment in carrageenan and polyacrylamide and adsorption to polyester filters. Carrageenan gels were very porous, and the enzyme was slowly inactivated in polyacrylamide. When adsorbed on polyester the enzyme could be lyophilized and reactivated. Batch reactors charged with the immobilized enzyme converted gentisate to maleylpyruvate with yields of 10–90%.     

Photochemical Enzyme Immobilization on Textile Carrier Materials

The catalase (E.C. 1.11.1.6) enzyme was covalently immobilized on textile carrier fabrics made of poly(ethylene terephthalate) or polyamide 6.6 by a new photochemical process in the presence of cross‐linking agents. The enzyme and the bifunctional organic compound (diallylphthalate or cyclohexane‐1,4‐dimethanoldivinylether) were emulated in water using a non‐ionic surfactant. After wetting, the textile carrier materials were irradiated with a monochromatic excimer UV lamp (222 nm) in an inert atmosphere. Depending on the support and the cross‐linking agent used 20 – 30 mg enzyme per gram carrier could be fixed durably, which can be quantitatively analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy due to the iron content of the catalase. The efficiency of the immobilization products was investigated by measuring the enzymatic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide compared to the free enzyme. The relative activity of the catalase after the immobilization reached 10–20 % of the free, non‐fixed catalase. Even after 20 applications, the immobilized enzyme showed a distinct activity and the integral activity trough the period of all applications was higher by a factor of around 3.5 than the activity of the free catalase, which could be used only once in technical processes. Summing up the results, fabrics of a high protein load and a distinct activity can be produced with low preparative and economic expense by irradiating the materials by means of excimer UV lamps in the presence of cross‐linking agents.     

Immobilization of enzymes on porous silica supports

Four silica supports differing in pore dimensions were activated by treatment with SiCl₄ and then with ethylenediamine to obtain alkylamine groups on the silica surface. Three enzymes, peroxidase from cabbage, glucoamylase from Aspergillus niger C and urease from soybean were immobilized on these supports using glutaraldehyde as coupling agent. It was found that the protein content, the retained enzymatic activity and the storage stability of the silica supported enzymes were considerably affected by support pore size and enzyme molecular weight, the factors which are supposed to alter protein distribution inside the support pores. The highest activity was found for peroxidase and glucoamylase attached to the silica with the widest pores, but their loss in activity during storage was considerable. The urease retained less activity after immobilization, but its storage stability was excellent.     

Porous zirconia: a new support material for enzyme immobilization

Four different proteases (trypsin, chymotrypsin, papain and pepsin) were covalently attached to the surface of a new type of porous zirconia, as well as a conventional porous silica, activated with 3-isothiocyanatopropyltriethoxy silane (NCS-silane). The immobilization efficiency onto the porous zirconia material was evaluated in terms of the amount of enzyme attached to the particles and from the biological activity remaining after the immobilization step. The results were compared with the corresponding experiments with a porous silica of similar surface area/g support material. In addition, the storage stability of the modified zirconia and silica biocatalysts were evaluated. These results indicated that specific immobilized enzyme biocatalysts can be achieved with this new zirconia support material which exhibits different properties to those observed with the more conventional silica-based materials. Moreover, the results with the enzyme-zirconia biocatalysts also indicate different characteristics when compared with data for the same enzymes immobilized under similar buffer conditions to organic support materials as previously described by various other investigators. The advantages of zirconia-based immobilized enzyme biocatalysts in terms of their density and chemical robustness are also described relative to other alternative support materials currently in use.     

Scale-up of flat-plate reactors for enzymatic hydrolysis of fats and oils

To determine the feasibility of continuous enzymatic fat-splitting, immobilized lipase reactors were constructed from alternating layers of enzyme support material and separator screens. Partially purified lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus was loaded onto the support material at pH 5.5 by irreversible adsorption. Melted edible tallow at 51°C was pumped through the immobilized enzyme layers and swept from the downstream separator screens by buffer recycled from a continuous oil/water separator. Results from continuous operation of 10-layer reactors were compared with data from single-layer reactors. The activity per square centimeter of 10-layer reactors was nearly as much as that of single-layer reactors at the same enzyme loading and oil feed rate. Data were fitted to an empirical mathematical model.     

Calcium alginate–starch hybrid support for both surface immobilization and entrapment of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) peroxidase

Calcium alginate–starch hybrid gel was employed as an enzyme carrier both for surface immobilization and entrapment of bitter gourd peroxidase. Entrapped crosslinked concanavalin A–bitter gourd peroxidase retained 52% of the initial activity while surface immobilized and glutaraldehyde crosslinked enzyme showed 63% activity. A comparative stability of both forms of immobilized bitter gourd peroxidase was investigated against pH, temperature and chaotropic agent; like urea, heavy metals, water-miscible organic solvents, detergent and inhibitors. Entrapped peroxidase was significantly more stable as compared to surface immobilized form of enzyme. The pH and temperature-optima for both immobilized preparations were the same as for soluble bitter gourd peroxidase. Entrapped crosslinked concanavalin A–bitter gourd peroxidase showed 75% of the initial activity while the surface immobilized and crosslinked bitter gourd peroxidase retained 69% of the original activity after its seventh repeated use.     

Stabilization of activity of oxidoreductases by their immobilization onto special functionalized glass and novel aminocellulose film using different coupling reagents

Glucose oxidase (GOD), horseradish peroxidase (HRP), and lactate oxidase (LOD) were covalently immobilized on special NH(2)-functionalized glass and on a novel NH(2)-cellulose film via 13 different coupling reagents. The properties of these immobilized enzymes, such as activity, storage stability, and thermostability, are strongly dependent on the coupling reagent. For example, GOD immobilized by cyanuric chloride on the NH(2)-cellulose film loses approximately half of its immobilized activity after 30 days of storage at 4 degrees C or after treatment at 65 degrees C for 30 min. In contrast, GOD immobilized by L-ascorbic acid onto the same NH(2)-cellulose film retains 90% of its initial activity after 1 year of storage at 4 degrees C and 92% after heat treatment at 65 degrees C for 30 min. Unlike GOD, in the case of LOD only immobilization on special NH(2)-functionalized glass, e.g., via cyanuric chloride, led to a stabilization of the enzyme activity in comparison to the native enzyme. The operational stability of immobilized HRP was up to 40 times higher than that of the native enzyme if coupling to the new NH(2)-cellulose film led to an amide or sulfonamide bond. Regarding the kinetics of the immobilized enzymes, the coupling reagent plays a minor role for the enzyme substrate affinity, which is characterized by the apparent Michaelis constant (K(M,app)). The NH(2)-functionalized support material as well as the immobilized density of the protein and/or immobilized activity has a strong influence on the K(M,app) value. In all cases, K(M,app) decreases with increasing immobilized enzyme protein density and particularly drastically for GOD.     

Controlled layer-by-layer immobilization of horseradish peroxidase.

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was biotinylated with biotinamidocaproate N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (BcapNHS) in a controlled manner to obtain biotinylated horseradish peroxidase (Bcap-HRP) with two biotin moieties per enzyme molecule. Avidin-mediated immobilization of HRP was achieved by first coupling avidin on carboxy-derivatized polystyrene beads using a carbodiimide, followed by the attachment of the disubstituted biotinylated horseradish peroxidase from one of the two biotin moieties through the avidin-biotin interaction (controlled immobilization). Another layer of avidin can be attached to the second biotin on Bcap-HRP, which can serve as a protein linker with additional Bcap-HRP, leading to a layer-by-layer protein assembly of the enzyme. Horseradish peroxidase was also immobilized directly on carboxy-derivatized polystyrene beads by carbodiimide chemistry (conventional method). The reaction kinetics of the native horseradish peroxidase, immobilized horseradish peroxidase (conventional method), controlled immobilized biotinylated horseradish peroxidase on avidin-coated beads, and biotinylated horseradish peroxidase crosslinked to avidin-coated polystyrene beads were all compared. It was observed that in solution the biotinylated horseradish peroxidase retained 81% of the unconjugated enzyme's activity. Also, in solution, horseradish peroxidase and Bcap-HRP were inhibited by high concentrations of the substrate hydrogen peroxide. The controlled immobilized horseradish peroxidase could tolerate much higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and, thus, it demonstrates reduced substrate inhibition. Because of this, the activity of controlled immobilized horseradish peroxidase was higher than the activity of Bcap-HRP in solution. It is shown that a layer-by-layer assembly of the immobilized enzyme yields HRP of higher activity per unit surface area of the immobilization support compared to conventionally immobilized enzyme.     

Studies on the activity and stability of immobilized horseradish peroxidase on poly(ethylene terephthalate) grafted acrylamide fiber

Having been activated with glutaraldehyde, modified poly(ethylene terephthalate) grafted acrylamide fiber was used for the immobilization of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Both the free HRP and the immobilized HRP were characterized by determining the activity profile as a function of pH, temperature, thermal stability, effect of organic solvent and storage stability. The optimum pH values of the enzyme activity were found as 8 and 7 for the free HRP and the immobilized HRP respectively. The temperature profile of the free HRP and the immobilized HRP revealed a similar behaviour, although the immobilized HRP exhibited higher relative activity in the range from 50 to 60 °C. The immobilized HRP showed higher storage stability than the free HRP.     

The performance of immobilized glucose isomerase supported by shrimp chitin in various types of reactors

Five different types of reactors were employed for glucose isomerization using shrimp shell as the support on which to immobilize the glucose isomerase. The Michaelis-Menten constants and effective diffusivity of glucose in the immobilized enzyme bed were experimentally determined and used in a theoretical analysis of the radial-flow reactor. The fractional conversions of the radial-flow, fluidizedbed, and packed-bed reactors with the same -residence time were found experimentally to be almost the same. This result reveals that the use of radial-flow and fluidized-bed reactors for this immobilized enzyme system is highly feasible.     

Immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B: Hydration, stripping off and application in ring opening polyester synthesis

This work reviews the stripping off, role of water molecules in activity, and flexibility of immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB). Employment of CALB in ring opening polyester synthesis emphasizing on a polylactide is discussed in detail. Execution of enzymes in place of inorganic catalysts is the most green alternative for sustainable and environment friendly synthesis of products on an industrial scale. Robust immobilization and consequently performance of enzyme is the essential objective of enzyme application in industry. Water bound to the surface of an enzyme (contact class of water molecules) is inevitable for enzyme performance; it controls enzyme dynamics via flexibility changes and has intensive influence on enzyme activity. The value of pH during immobilization of CALB plays a critical role in fixing the active conformation of an enzyme. Comprehensive selection of support and protocol can develop a robust immobilized enzyme thus enhancing its performance. Organic solvents with a log P value higher than four are more suitable for enzymatic catalysis as these solvents tend to strip away very little of the enzyme surface bound water molecules. Alternatively ionic liquid can work as a more promising reaction media. Covalent immobilization is an exclusively reliable technique to circumvent the leaching of enzymes and to enhance stability. Activated polystyrene nanoparticles can prove to be a practical and economical support for chemical immobilization of CALB. In order to reduce the E-factor for the synthesis of biodegradable polymers; enzymatic ring opening polyester synthesis (eROPS) of cyclic monomers is a more sensible route for polyester synthesis. Synergies obtained from ionic liquids and immobilized enzyme can be much effective eROPS.     

An immobilized alpha-galactosidase continuous flow reactor

An α-galactosidase which will hydrolyze the oligosaccharides melibiose, raffinose, and stachyose has been immobilized on nylon microfibrils suitable for use in large flow-through reactors. This catalyst system is stable for many months, both under use and storage conditions. The immobilized enzyme behaves similarly to the enzyme in solution, characteristically exhibiting both product and substrate inhibition. The catalyst is prepared in situ and a large, 8-liter reactor has been made. The catalyst has been used to reduce the raffinose concentration in beet sugar molasses.     

Immobilization of lipase on epoxy-activated Purolite® A109 and its post-immobilization stabilization

In this study, Purolite^® A109, polystyrenic macroporous resin, was used as immobilization support due to its good mechanical properties and high particle diameter (400 μm), which enables efficient application in enzyme reactors due to lower pressure drops. The surface of support had been modified with epichlorhydrine and was tested in lipase immobilization. Optimized procedure for support modification proved to be more efficient than conventional procedure for hydroxy groups (at 22 °C for 18 h), since duration of procedure was shortened to 40 min by performing modification at 52 °C resulting with almost doubled concentration of epoxy groups (563 μmol g⁻¹). Lipase immobilized on epoxy-modified support showed significantly improved thermal stability comparing to both, free form and commercial immobilized preparation (Novozym^® 435). The highest activity (47.5 IU g⁻¹) and thermal stability (2.5 times higher half-life than at low ionic strength) were obtained with lipase immobilized in high ionic strength. Thermal stability of immobilized lipase was further improved by blocking unreacted epoxy groups on supports surface with amino acids. The most efficient was treatment with phenylalanine, since in such a way blocked immobilized enzyme retained 65% of initial activity after 8 h incubation at 65 °C, while non-blocked derivative retained 12%.     

Immobilization of horseradish peroxidase onto Purolite® A109 and its anthraquinone dye biodegradation and detoxification potential

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is a highly specific enzyme with great potential for use in the decolorization of synthetic dyes. A comprehensive study of HRP immobilization using various techniques such as adsorption and covalent immobilization on the novel carrier Purolite® A109 with a special focus on enzymatic decolorization and toxicity of artificially colored wastewater. The immobilized preparations with an activity of 156.21 ± 1.41 U g⁻¹ and 85.71 ± 1.62 U g⁻¹ after the HRP adsorption and covalent immobilization, respectively, were obtained. Stability and reusability of the immobilized preparations were also evaluated. A noteworthy decolorization level (~90%) with immobilized HRP was achieved. Phytotoxicity testing using Mung bean seeds and acute toxicity assay with Artemia salina has confirmed the applicability of the obtained immobilized preparation in industrial wastewater plants for the treatment of colored wastewater.     

Continuous production of lignin peroxidase by Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Phanerochaete chrysosporium spores were immobilized both in agarose and agar gel beads, and used for the production of lignin peroxidase in repeated batch cultures on carbon-limited medium both with 0.5 g l⁻¹ glucose and without glucose. Veratryl alcohol was used as an activator of enzyme production. The biocatalyst was more stable in agarose gel with the maximum activity of 245 U l⁻¹ obtained in a 70 h batch. The biocatalyst could be used for at least 12 batches on the glucose medium with a gradual decrease in lignin peroxidase activity after the sixth batch. Further, mycelium pellets grown on carbon-limited medium were employed both in vertical and horizontal column reactors for the continuous production of lignin peroxidase. The bioreactor produced lignin peroxidase for at least 20 days in the horizontal system at 49 h residence time, with a maximum activity of 95 U l⁻¹.     

beta-Galactosidase immobilization for milk lactose hydrolysis: a simple experimental and modelling study of batch and continuous reactors

The experiment described in this paper introduces students to the practical use of an enzyme (beta-galactosidase, or lactase) acting on a natural substrate. The enzyme is immobilized onto a cheap support, and the immobilized derivative is used in a packed-bed reactor for continuous milk lactose hydrolysis. The results are compared to those obtained for discontinuous batch reactors with soluble enzyme. A mathematical model of the two types of reactors is run, and its results are compared with the experimental data obtained.