In situ immobilization of Candida antarctica B lipase in polyurethane foam support

• Candida antarctica B lipase immobilized in polyurethane foam by confinement method.
• Potential application of the derivative in synthesis reactions.
• The immobilization process increased 535% the activity for enzymatic derivative.
• CALB immobilization is a promising technique, simple and with low cost.

Candida antarctica B (CALB) lipase was immobilized using polyurethane (PU) foam as support by confinement method. This can be a promising technique due to the low cost of the support, simple procedure of immobilization and the possibility of using the derivative as catalyst for the food industry reactions. CALB immobilization on PU was performed using 6 mL polyol and 4 mL isocyanate (60–40%, v/v), with 1 mL of enzymatic solution (0.8 g enzyme in 5 mL distilled water). The immobilization process resulted in a 535% increase in activity for the enzymatic derivative. The enzyme was stable for 360 days at room (10–25 °C) and low (2–8 °C) temperatures, for 300 days at 40 and 60 °C and for 150 days at 80 °C in wet ambient conditions. The synthesis of geranyl propionate and ethyl oleate catalyzed by the immobilized derivative presented conversions of around 97 and 83%, respectively. The immobilized CALB in PU was reused consecutively different behavior occurred which stored in dry ambient conditions at different temperatures (room: 10–25 °C, refrigeration: 2–8 °C and 40 °C) resisted 30 cycles, for both forms of storage, keeping more than 87, 95 and 83% of its activity, respectively.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide