Innovative Membrane Purification of Plant-Based Lipase from Flaxseed Using Graphene Oxide

Abstract

Plant-derived lipases offer a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to microbial and animal enzymes for industrial use. Flaxseed is a promising source due to its high lipase activity during germination, although efficient extraction of the active enzyme remains challenging. This study evaluates optimized extraction and purification strategies for lipase from germinated, defatted flaxseed. Maximum specific activity was observed after 4 h of germination. Purification using a membrane modified with polyethylenimine (PEI) and graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles functionalized with tannic acid (TA) significantly enhanced performance, increasing specific activity by approximately 11.6-fold. Membrane characterization showed reduced pore size and improved antifouling behavior, allowing reuse for at least two cycles with a 74.38% flow recovery. The purified lipase demonstrated thermal stability between 25 and 60 °C. Overall, the proposed membrane-based approach enables the efficient production of high-activity flaxseed lipase, reinforcing its potential as a sustainable and economically viable industrial biocatalyst.