IMMOBILIZATION OF SACCHAROMYCES-CEREVISIAE CELLS AND RHIZOMUCOR-MIEHEI LIPASE FOR THE PRODUCTION AND EXTRACTIVE BIOCATALYSIS OF ETHANOL

The production of ethanol by Saccharomyces cerevisiae immobilized cell s and its esterification with oleic acid, catalysed by a lipase from R hizomucor miehei, was the biochemical process considered as model to i llustrate the concept of extractive biocatalysis. The selection of the most suitable support for lipase immobilization was carried out. The best results for the ethanol/oleic acid esterification reaction were o btained with the lipase adsorbed on a polyamide type support, Accurel EP 700. The immobilization method was optimized in terms of immobiliza tion pH, contact time and protein/support ratio. The better performanc es of the extractive fermentations of ethanol were obtained when entra pped k-carrageenan Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells and a Lipase from Rh izomucor miehei, free or immobilized in Accurel EP 700, were used simu ltaneously. The observed reutilization capacity of the immobilized enz yme could be advantageous for its application in a continuous reactor.