Immobilization of microbial protease on vermiculite

Vermiculite, an inert and cheap solid support material, was used in the immobilization of protease by adsorption. Adsorption of protease on vermiculite saturated with potassium, calcium and aluminium was studied. Aluminium saturated vermiculite adsorbed maximum amount of enzyme at pH 6.5. The maximum adsorption of enzyme on cationic vermiculite occurred within one hour at 30°C. When the temperature was increased there was a two fold increase in the adsorption of the enzyme. From the Freundlich isotherm data, the values of k and n were computed.