Immobilization of commercial endoglucanases and xylanases on magnetized graphene oxide

• Grant number: 19/17690-6
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): December 01, 2019
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Process Industries
• Principal researcher: Fernando Masarin
• Grantee: Leonardo Moreira Ropelato
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Agroindustrial byproduct from sugar and alcohol industry and pulp and paper sector consist is mainly of lignocellulosic material. These materials are renewable and they have potential for being reuse. A vital step in the cellulose and hemicellulose processing from agroindustrial byproducts is its hydrolysis to monomeric sugars and its subsequential conversion into bioproducts, especially biofuels. In this regard, traditional chemical methods are generally used which require critical conditions and generate undesirable chemical compounds. Thus, a less aggressive method is the enzymatic hydrolysis, which produces monosaccharides without generating such undesirable compounds. However, the use of enzymes may be unfeasible depending on its cost and the difficulty of maintaining its stability during the biocatalytic process. In order to overcome these limitations, the immobilization of enzymes in solid materials appears as a promising technique, as it offers some advantages, highlighting the possibility of enzyme reuse, easier bioproduct separation and increased enzymatic stability. In this scenario, graphene oxide (GO) is a promising material for immobilization of enzymes once it has a large surface area, consisting of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Besides, GO is obtained through the graphite crystals oxidation, which are cheap and plentiful. Given the above, the present project proposes to immobilize cellulosic enzymes of commercial enzyme extract on magnetized graphene oxide (MGO) and to evaluate the potential of immobilization on this support. (AU)