Immobilization of Candida rugosa lipase on chitosan with activation of the hydroxyl groups.

A method for immobilization of Candida rugosa lipase to two types of chitosan beads by activating the hydroxyl groups of chitosan using carbodiimide coupling agent has been successfully developed. The ability of carbodiimide to activate the hydroxyl groups of chitosan was confirmed using the electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) technique. The properties of lipase immobilized using dry and wet chitosan beads were also investigated and compared. Immobilization enhanced the enzyme stability against changes of pH and temperature. High storage stability of 30 days and an increased enzyme activity of 2,110% were observed in wet immobilized lipase. Immobilized lipase using dry and wet chitosan beads retained 78% and 85% of its initial activity after 10 batch hydrolytic cycles. The kinetic parameters Km and Vmax were determined for the free and immobilized lipase. The activation energy (Ea) was found to decrease for immobilization of lipase on chitosan beads.