Biocatalysis using microemulsion-based polymer gels containing lipase

Natural gelling agents such as gelatin, agar and kappa-carrageenan have bee n tested for the formation of lecithin microemulsion-based gels as well as hydrogels (without surfactant and oil). The results presented in this work provide information concerning the utility of these solid gels as lipase im mobilization matrices. It was found that lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia ke eps its catalytic function after entrapment in the gels, catalyzing the est erification reaction of propanol with lauric acid in various hydrocarbons a t room temperature. Various parameters which affect the lipase catalytic be havior such as the nature and the concentration of the gelling agent, as we ll as the concentration of the biocatalyst and the mole ratio of the substr ates have been examined. High yields (80%) were obtained with agar and kapp a-carrageenan organogels in isooctane. The remaining lipase activity, in re peated syntheses was found to depend on the nature of the biopolymer used f or the formation of the organogels. Gelatin and agar microemulsion-based ge ls showed the highest operational stability. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.