Enzyme Immobilization
Enzyme engineering is a fast-growing application in the pharmaceutical market. Enzymes are key to new processes because they are environmentally friendly and reduce hazardous waste. Enzymatic reactions can occur under milder conditions, at a faster rate, while being highly specific. Therefore, enzymatic process allows to minimize process steps.
Enzymes can be operated in the liquid form or immobilized on various supports. Immobilized enzymes enhance process robustness, allow longer duration of activity of enzymes, and re-use of the same enzymes in multiple cycles.
Process design gains flexibility thanks to the different modes of operation: batch or column. Further more, the use of immobilized enzyme eliminate the enzyme separation step from the main process thus simplifying and increasing the overall process yield.
|
Enzyme carrier |
Fixation |
Examples of immobilized Enzymes |
Anionic |
Maltose phosphorylase, trehalose phosphorylase | |
|
Cationic |
Lysozyme (recovery), Cytochrome C, Acylase | |
|
Adsorption |
Thermolysin, Penicillin acylase, Lipase, ß-amylase | |
|
Adsorption |
ß-amylase, ß-Galactosidase, Lactase, Papain, Chymotrypsin, Glucoseoxidase, Lipase. | |
Duolite A568 |
Anionic |
Glucose isomerase, Lipase. |
|
Duolite A7
|
Adsorption
|
Trypsin, Aspartase, Aminocylase, RNase, Lactase.
|
Methods of fixation
Three main modes of operation are currently used with enzymes. From simple absorption, ionic to covalent binding. These modes of operation allow a wide range of enzyme and applications to be covered.
| Related Article |
Enzyme Immobilization on Polymeric Resins - Amberlite™ and Duolite™ Strive to Improve Catalysis Economics Through Reuse
Genetic Engineering (October 2008)
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