Flow-through immobilization of Candida rugosa lipase on hierarchical micro-/macroporous carbon monolith

Hierarchical micro-/macroporous carbon monoliths are prepared as enzyme carriers for flow-through process. The immobilization of Candida rugosa lipase on micro-/macroporous carbon monoliths is studied. Lipase is immobilized by physical adsorption which lipase solution is circulated through the micro-/macroporous carbon monolith. An accessibility of lipase to the surface inside the micro-/macroporous carbon monolith is enhanced by flow-through method which promotes enzyme–surface interaction and finally leads to rapid enzyme immobilization. After immobilization is conducted for 10 min, the maximum protein binding can be measured. In terms of substrate-immobilized lipase reactions, flowing of substrate through lipase immobilized micro-/macroporous carbon monolith promotes high efficiency in both reaction and product withdrawal. Moreover, at high flow rates of lipase solution in immobilization step, the lipase activity increases. Oxygenated surface of micro-/macroporous carbon monoliths support also demonstrates an interesting effect on lipase immobilization and biocatalyst activity. The initial reaction rate of lipase immobilized on oxygenated surface carbon monolith support has higher activity compared with normal surface.

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► Hierarchical porous carbon monolith shows great potential for enzyme immobilization support.
► Oxygenated micro-/macroporous carbon monolith can also be used as a good candidate for lipase support in continuous process.
► Flow-through immobilization is introduced as an interesting technique to improve enzyme properties and enzyme catalyzed reaction.