Studies on the immobilization of lipase by an adsorption method

To utilize lipase obtained from Candida cylindracea for lipid hydrolysis, methods to immobilize lipase by adsorption and reaction characteristics of the immobilized lipase by adsorption were investigated. Among the tested adsorbents, silica gel was selected as a suitable adsorbent. The optimum condition for adsorption of lipase was when 47.5 units of lipase were adsorbed to 1.6g of silica gel at pH7.0 and for 100 min. Optimum pH and temperature for activity of the immobilized lipase were at and pH7.0, which were same as the soluble lipase. Optimum enzyme concentration of the immobilized lipase were 30g for milk fat and 80g for olive oil, whereas those of the soluble lipase were 800 units for milk fat and 1200 units for olive oil. The optimum substrate concentrations of the immobilized and soluble lipases were 20% lipid, regardless of lipid types. Rapid hydrolysis of milk fat was observed with the soluble lipase for the initial 4 hours and with the immobilized lipase for the initial 8 hours. The immobilized lipase produced same amount of capric acid as the soluble lipase, but more myristic acid and less butyric acid than the soluble lipase.