Ethanol pretreatment effect and particle diameter issues on the adsorption of Candida rugosa lipase onto polypropylene powder

MARÍA LAURA FORESTI; MARÍA LUJÁN FERREIRA

APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE

Año: 2004 vol. 238 p. 86 - 90

0169-4332

Lipase from Candida rugosa (CR) was adsorbed onto low molecular weight polypropylene powder (PP). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM),. energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) techniques and conversion yield of CR/PP mediated ethyl oleate synthesis in solvent free media demonstrated lipase adsorption onto PP and its affinity towards biggest polypropylene particles  (590-1180 um).An ethanol pretreatment was essayed in order to decrease the hydrophobic nature of PP. Long periods of ethanol pretreatment led to immobilised particles with different average size and associated activity.Molecular mechanics software pacjages were used to study the interaction between polypropylene and CR´s lid.