Gustavo Paim Valença

Effect of immobilized cells in calcium alginate beads in alcoholic fermentation

Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells were immobilized in calcium alginate and chitosan-covered calcium alginate beads and studied in the fermentation of glucose and sucrose for ethanol production. The batch fermentations were carried out in an orbital shaker and assessed by monitoring the concentration of substrate and product with HPLC. Cell immobilization in calcium alginate beads and chitosan-covered calcium alginate beads allowed reuse of the beads in eight sequential fermentation cycles of 10 h each. The final concentration of ethanol using free cells was 40 g L-1 and the yields using glucose and sucrose as carbon sources were 78% and 74.3%, respectively. For immobilized cells in calcium alginate beads, the final ethanol concentration from glucose was 32.9 ± 1.7 g L-1 with a 64.5 ± 3.4% yield, while the final ethanol concentration from sucrose was 33.5 ± 4.6 g L-1 with a 64.5 ± 8.6% yield. For immobilized cells in chitosan-covered calcium alginate beads, the ethanol concentration from glucose was 30.7 ± 1.4 g L-1 with a 61.1 ± 2.8% yield, while the final ethanol concentration from sucrose was 31.8 ± 6.9 g L-1 with a 62.1 ± 12.8% yield. The immobilized cells allowed eight 10 h sequential reuse cycles to be carried out with stable final ethanol concentrations. In addition, there was no need to use antibiotics and no contamination was observed. After the eighth cycle, there was a significant rupture of the beads making them inappropriate for reuse.

Kinetics of Gas-Phase Hydrolysis of Ethyl Acetate Catalyzed by Immobilized Lipase

Reactions catalyzed by supported enzymes present important advantages when compared with those in aqueous media or organic solvents: separation of enzymes from substrate is easily accomplished, enzyme stability may be improved, and control of the reaction products is more accurate. We present the experimental results of the kinetic study of ethyl acetate hydrolysis in gaseous phase catalyzed by a commercial immobilized lipase (Lipozyme IM; Novo Nordisk). The hydrolysis reaction was studied as a function of ethyl ester and water partial pressure at a constant temperature of 318 K. The amount of biocatalyst used was varied between 100 and 300 mg, and the reaction was studied in a flow-through glass microreactor. Under the conditions used, water was an important parameter in the gas-phase reaction. Activation energy was 24.8 kJ/mol and the overall order of reaction was one. Finally a Bi-Bi reaction mechanism is proposed.

Gas-phase enzymatic esterification on immobilized lipases in MCM-41 molecular sieves

Several lipolytic enzymes were immobilized in the pores of MCM-41 and Al-MCM-41 molecular sieves and used as catalysts in the gas-phase esterification of acetic acid with ethanol. The entrapment of enzymes depended on the molecular sieve and the type of enzyme used. The order of enzymatic activity for enzymes entrapped in the pores of MCM-41 and Al-MCM-41 in the esterification reaction was OF (Rhizopus niveus lipases) < FAP-15 (Rhizopus oryzae lipases) < LEX (Mucorjavanicus lipases) < PS (Pseudomonas cepacia lipases) < AK (Pseudomonas fluorescens lipases). Experiments carried out between 298 and 318 K showed no effect of temperature on catalyst yield, suggesting that the enzymes were appropriately immobilized in the pores of the molecular sieves, thus avoiding possible processes such as denaturing or autolysis.

BIOCATÁLISE HETEROGÊNEA EM FASE SÓLIDO/GÁS: PRINCÍPIOS E APLICAÇÕES

Enzymatic conversion of gaseous substrates into products in aquo-restricted media, using enzymes or whole cells (free and immobilized) as biocatalysts, constitutes a promising technology for the development of clearer processes. Solid-gas systems offer high production rates for minimal plant sizes, allow important reduction of treated volumes, and permit simplified downstream processes. In this review article, principles and applications of solid-gas biocatalysis are discussed. Comparisons of its advantages and disadvantages with those of the organic- and aqueous-phase reactions are also presented herein.