Novel enzyme/exfoliated bentonite nanohybrids as highly efficient and recyclable biocatalysts in hydrolytic reaction

• Efficient and recyclable nanohybrids are prepared by a green and facile method.
• The liberation of interlayer surface of bentonite increases enzyme loading notably.
• High dispersion of enzyme molecules on the support improves their activities.
• The card-like structure of nanohybrid promotes mass transfer and catalytic stability.

Bentonite exfoliation liberated the interlayer surface with large area for immobilization of enzyme at high enzyme loading. Upon the electrostatic attraction between positively charged bovine pancreatic lipase (BPL), Yarrawia lipolytica lipase (YLL), trypsin and negatively charged surface of unilaminar bentonite, three nanohybrids with a stably card-like structure named as BPL-B, YLL-B and TB were facilely produced. These nanohybrids showed higher activities in hydrolysis as 115.2% (BPL-B), 154.8% (YLL-B) and 138.2% (TB) of that of the correspondingly free enzyme. Furthermore, BPL-B, YLL-B and TB retained 80%, 90% and 82% of each original activity after repeated use for 10, 12 and 8 times, respectively. The recyclable and active nanohybrids are expected to be widely applied as industrial catalysts in the future.

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