Influence of the nature of the support on the catalytic performance of CALB: experimental and theoretical evidence

CARLA JOSÉ; MARÍA VICTORIA TOLEDO; PAULA NICOLÁS; VERÓNICA LASSALLE; MARÍA LUJÁN FERREIRA; MARÍA LAURA BRIAND

Catalysis Science & Technology

Royal Society of Chemistry

Lugar: Cambridge; Año: 2018 vol. 8 p. 3513 - 3526

The immobilization of the lipase B of Candida antarctica (CALB) was carried out on various hydrophilic andhydrophobic supports through adsorption and covalent bond interactions. The catalytic performance ofthe biocatalysts was evaluated in the enantioselective esterification of R/S-ibuprofen with ethanol withoutco-solvents added. The present investigation demonstrates that the biocatalysts based on CALBimmobilized by adsorption on hydrophobic supports (acrylic resin, polymethylmethacrylate, polystyrene,epoxy resin and polypropylene) exhibit higher conversion of ibuprofen and enantiomeric excess towardsthe S-enantiomer than CALB immobilized on hydrophilic materials. Additionally, the enzyme loading is akey factor influencing the conversion of the substrate regardless of the nature of the support material. Ahigh enzyme loading is detrimental to the specific activity of the biocatalysts. Experimental and molecularmodeling investigations provided evidence for the influence of water activity in the stereospecificity ofthe lipase