Immobilization of commercial cellulase (endo-1,4-²-glucanase) in brackets chitosan, alginate and latex

• Grant number: 13/13304-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2013
• End date: August 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Enzymology
• Principal Investigator: Pedro de Oliva Neto
• Grantee: Gabriela Stella Mazali
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Letras (FCL-ASSIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Assis. Assis , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Nowadays, the search for biotechnological processes more efficient and sustainable has increased. In this context, there is a great interest in the development and implementation of the new processes using enzyme technology, producing higher quality products, lower energy consumption, and less environmental impact. The cellulase enzymes are of great industrial interest, used in beverage production, in the textile industry, and in paper and cellulose hydrolysis to obtain fermentable sugars. Despite the wide range of applications, the cost of enzymes is high, making their use economically unfeasible in free form, in addition to their sensitivity conditions of industrial processing. In this way, the enzyme immobilization on solid supports enables the reuse of catalytic activity and stability of enzymes providing improved processes and lower costs. In search of better immobilization supports, hybrid gels or hydrogels are formed by the association of two or more complementary polymers. Chitosan-alginate hybrids are reported in the literature as brackets for enzymes immobilization. The latex is mainly extracted from rubber trees (Havea brasiliensis) and has characteristics such as mechanical strength, elasticity, easy handling, and porosity, it is studied in this work as a support for the immobilization of enzymes and is cost-effective. Then, this study aims to search for new supports for the immobilization of commercial cellulase using compounds of calcium alginate, chitosan, and natural latex in order to obtain the best protocol. (AU)