Immobilization of Fungal Cellulase on Calcium Alginate and Xerogel Matrix

Abstract

We conducted a study for immobilization of cellulase produced by Aspergillus tubingensis-IMMIS2 through pre-optimized solid-state fermentation of corn stover. Incredible increment in stability and catalytic activity of the immobilized cellulase was observed. Thermostability of the immobilized cellulase was increased to 82% at 75 °C as compared to that of free cellulase after 26 h of incubation. The cellulase activity was decreased after the 20th day of incubation of the both immobilized and free enzymes. Maximum cellulase activity was achieved at pH 4.5 (174 ± 0.4 U mL min ) and temperature 45 °C (179 ± 0.4 U mL min ) for xerogel matrix. The lowest K value was found for the enzyme immobilized on xerogel as compared to those of immobilized on calcium alginate and free enzyme. Immobilization of cellulase on calcium alginate and xerogel matrix increased tolerance capacity of the enzyme to 75–82% against different activators and/or inhibitors like EDTA, SDS, Co , Ca and Hg . The immobilized cellulase also revealed good fruit saccharification and yielded increased juice volume and hence proved to be a suitable candidate for biotechnological and industrial applications.