Cellulase immobilized on poly-L-glutamic acid

Cellulase (Cellulosin AC-8) was immobilized on poly-L-glutamic acid. This immobilized cellulase (IC) is water soluble in the neutral and alkaline solutions, where IC has the activity, while IC can be made insoluble by lowering the pH so that it can be recovered from the reaction mixture with its activity. The optimum pH and temperature were determined to be 5.5 and 55 degrees C, respectively. The stability of IC against change in the pH and temperature was improved by the immobilization. Solvolysis of 3N-NaOH-treated cellulose, with IC under the optimum conditions found here, led to the production of low-molecular-weight compounds.