Immobilization of Candida cylindracea Lipase by Covalent Attachment on Glu-Modified Bentonite

Alkaline Ca-bentonite, obtained upon acid activation and base load of natural bentonite, has a good anion exchange capability. Glu-modified alkaline Ca-bentonites were further prepared by covalent binding with glutamic acid for the immobilization of lipase OF from Candida cylindracea. The obtained immobilized lipase demonstrated a significantly higher catalytic activity than that of unmodified alkaline Ca-bentonite, giving a specific activity of 62.1 U mg−1 protein, twice that of the unmodified carrier, and a total activity of 391.2 U g−1 support, retaining ~ 82.3% of the activity after being reused five times for olive oil emulsion hydrolysis. X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy assays demonstrated the successful immobilization of the lipase on the surface of the bentonite. Upon immobilization, the thermostability of the lipase improved remarkably. At 50 °C, free lipase retained only 6.0% of its initial activity at 6 h, in comparison with 15% for Ca-Bent-lipase and 50% for Glu-Ca-Bent-lipase after 8 h. The Glu-Ca-Bent-lipase is proved as an effective biocatalyst for the biodiesel preparation, improving the transesterification reaction conversion from 52.8% in the condition of free lipase to 99.9% and keeping at 56.2% after being reused five times, while the free lipase was inactive upon two reuses. The above results provide a new route in the use of inexpensive bentonite for the enzyme immobilization.