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The Importance of Enzyme Immobilization

A key enabler to bring biocatalysis to scale.

Enzyme immobilization has been around for more than 100 years, and it keeps growing into a more and more essential technology in the processing industry. The reason for this is that immobilized enzymes can be deployed in a variety of applications, demonstrating high versatility. Over recent years, enzyme immobilization has constantly been further developed, making it simpler, quicker, and more efficient. - This just made it evermore appealing for practical implementation. Keeping this in mind, let’s take a closer look into the essentials and the purpose of enzyme immobilization.

What are immobilized enzymes?

The term ‘immobilized enzymes’ refers to heterogeneous, insolubile biocatalyst preparations. These can be prepared by a range of different strategies including binding of enzymes onto a solid support, entrapping enzymes in gels or microcapsules, or cross-linking enzymes to a degree at which they become insoluble. For more be referred to our Introduction to Enzyme Immobilization. The immobilization on solid supports is greatly enabled by a flurry of different available commercial enzyme carrier supports and thus a widespread approach.

Classically, enzyme immobilization can significantly increase enzyme stability and resistance to external factors such as temperature and pH. Moreover, comparing free and immobilized enzymes it becomes obvious that free, soluble enzyme will just be homogeneously distributed in the volume flow of the process, whereas immobilized enzymes remain concentrated and stationary in the compartment deployed. This renders separation and reuse of the biocatalyst much easier. However, the quality of immobilized enzymes is greatly influenced by immobilization carrier/support and immobilization process.

The purpose of immobilization

Just as for heterogeneous chemical catalysts, immobilized enzymes are easy to recover and re-use in both batch and continuous reactor operation modes. As also pointed out by S. Cantone et al. (2013), immobilization might also serve other purposes.

First, to avoid aggregation, precipitation or denaturation of free enzymes in organic solvents, their immobilization might pose an effective solution. Second, the use of immobilized enzymes allows to create localized reactor compartments with high catalyst-to-substrate ratio. Third, successful immobilization can provide stabilization required for long-term operation in an industrial setting. Lastly, in a few instances, immobilization may also increase enzyme activity.

 

 

In an industrial setting, the ability to reuse the enzyme is especially important. The cost of the enzyme is typically a significant portion of the operating costs of a biocatalytic process and an added upstream immobilization step must pay off by enabling biocatalyst recycling. In this way, the total initial biocatalyst costs can be recouped.

 

Main reasons to opt for immobilization

  • improve total catalytic productivity of enzymes
  • reuse of enzymes
  • simplified processes requiring less labor input
  • overall reduction of cost
  • reduced risk of product contamination
  • stability of the product
  • better process control
  • high enzyme-to-substrate ratio

Contact us today to make your immobilization processes simpler, quicker, and more efficient!

Frequently asked questions

How can enzyme immobilization reduce operating costs in my process?

The cost of the enzyme is typically a significant portion of the operating costs of a biocatalytic process. By immobilizing enzymes onto a solid support, you enable biocatalyst recycling, so the total initial biocatalyst costs can be recouped over multiple reaction cycles. Immobilization also leads to simplified processes requiring less labor input and an overall reduction of cost.

Learn how the rotating bed reactor makes enzyme reuse practical →

What is the best enzyme immobilization method for industrial-scale production?

Immobilized enzymes can be prepared by binding enzymes onto a solid support, entrapping them in gels or microcapsules, or cross-linking them to a degree at which they become insoluble. The immobilization on solid supports is greatly enabled by a flurry of different available commercial enzyme carrier supports and is thus a widespread approach. The right method depends on the enzyme, the carrier, and your process conditions.

Read our introduction to enzyme immobilization methods →

How do I reuse immobilized enzymes efficiently in batch or continuous processes?

Just as for heterogeneous chemical catalysts, immobilized enzymes are easy to recover and reuse in both batch and continuous reactor operation modes. The ability to reuse the enzyme is especially important in an industrial setting, where the added upstream immobilization step must pay off by enabling biocatalyst recycling. The rotating bed reactor simplifies this by keeping immobilized enzymes contained and protected during operation, with enhanced mass transferand no risk of damaging the solid phase.

Explore biocatalysis applications with the rotating bed reactor →

Download a Brochure about Biocatalysis Applications

What carrier or support should I choose for enzyme immobilization?

The quality of immobilized enzymes is greatly influenced by the immobilization carrier and the immobilization process. Commercial polymeric carriers offer a wide selection of properties, allowing you to find a tailored match to the enzyme and process. Factors to consider include particle size, porosity, surface chemistry, and mechanical stability. An efficient way to find the optimal carrier is through enzyme immobilization screening.

Physical parameters to consider when choosing enzyme carriers →

How can I scale up enzyme immobilization from lab to production?

Successful immobilization can provide the stabilization required for long-term operation in an industrial setting. Scaling up requires a reactor technology that delivers the same benefits on the factory floor as in the laboratory. The SpinChem rotating bed reactor enables consistent and predictable results from laboratory to pilot stage and production, with solutions for processing liquids from 150 ml up to thousands of cubic meters.

Guidelines to scale up with the rotating bed reactor →

References:
[1] S. Cantone, et al., Chem. Soc. Rev., 2013, 42(15), pp. 6262-6276. (image credit)