Esterase production by microorganisms: importance and industrial application

Abstract

Enzymes are very important in the biotechnological area due to the reactions of interesterification, transesterification and esterification that they are able to carry out. Microbial esterases can be secreted by filamentous fungi, yeasts or bacteria. Based on the characteristics of each of these enzymes, they can be used in the wine and dairy industries, in the degradation of complex compounds, in the bioremediation of contaminated sites, among other applications. The enzyme of interest must be characterized so that it can be produced on an industrial level. The process of industrial production of enzymes is carried out mainly in submerged fermentation. In general, this process consists of a series of steps that begin with the inoculation of the organism that must grow under optimal conditions, then the pretreatment of the enzyme of interest is undertaken, the enzyme is concentrated in order to eliminate the excess of water and finally the purification of the product is carried out.