Lipase immobilization on microemulsion-based polymer gels

Abstract

Lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia has been immobilized in lecithin or AOT microemulsion-based gels formed with two natural gelling agents such as gelatin and agar. The results presented in this work provide information concerning the utility of these solid gels as lipase immobilization matrices. Lipase keeps its catalytic activity after entrapment in the microemulsion-based gels, catalyzing the esterification reaction of propanol with lauric acid in isooctane. High yields (80%) were obtained with agar organogels after 72 h of incubation at room temperature. Gelatin and agar microemulsion-based gels exhibited good stability with regard to both retention of lipase catalytic activity and gel integrity. © Springer-Verlag 1999.