Effect of the structural chemical composition of mesoporous materials on the adsorption and activation of the Rhizopus oryzae lipase-catalyzed trans-esterification reaction in organic solvent

Rhizopus oryzae lipase (ROL) was immobilized onto SBA-15 (a pure silica) and PMO (an organosilica with ethane bridging groups) with different structural chemical compositions, but with relatively similar physical characteristics. The adsorption capacity of PMO for ROL immobilization was higher than that of SBA-15 as a result of the stronger combination of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions between ROL and PMO compared to the electrostatic interaction between ROL and SBA-15. ROL immobilized onto PMO showed a higher trans-esterification reaction activity than that immobilized onto SBA-15 and that of free ROL. The present study shows the preference of organosilica mesoporous materials compared to pure silica as supports of lipases applications in organic material synthesis.