Plasma Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes for Immobilization of Candida antarctica Lipase B: Production of Biodiesel from Methanolysis of Rapeseed Oil

Abstract

Surface modification of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) through functionalization could improve the characteristics of these nanomaterials as support for enzymes. Carboxylation of MWCNTs (MWCNT-COOH) has been carried out in this study using the dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma reactor through humidified air. The chemical method was also used for further functionalization of the MWCNT-COOH through which the amidation of the surfaces with either butylamine (MWCNT-BA) or octadecylamine (MWCNT-OA) was performed. By immobilization of Candida antarctica B lipase (CALB) on these nanoparticles, performance of the immobilized enzyme in catalyzing methanolysis of rapeseed oil was evaluated. The CALB loading on the MWCNT-BA and MWCNT-COOH was 20 mg protein/g, while the value for MWCNT-OA was 11 mg protein/g. The yield of biodiesel was determined as percentage of mass of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) produced per initial mass of the oil, and the yield value for the two of these three supports namely, MWCNT-COOH and MWCNT-BA used for the CALB immobilization was similar at about 92 %, while 86 % was the yield for the reaction catalyzed by the lipase immobilized on MWCNT-OA. Thermal stability of the immobilized CALB and the catalytic ability of the enzyme in the repeated batch experiments have also been determined.

Highly Active Nanobiocatalyst from Lipase Noncovalently Immobilized on Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes for Baeyer–Villiger Synthesis of Lactones

“…23 GC analyses were performed using a PerkinElmer Clarus 500 equipped with an SPB-5 column (30 m × 0.2 mm × 0.2 μm film; see Supporting Information (SI), Table S1). 1 H NMR spectra were recorded at 300 or 600 MHz, and 13 C NMR spectra were recorded at 75 or 150 MHz (Varian system; see SI).…”

“…Recently, nanoscale materials have opened up opportunities in the field of nanobiocatalysis. − Carbon nanomaterials have been described as versatile supports for enzyme immobilization due to their small size, large surface area, mechanical and thermal stability and other unique properties. The simple combination of a nanoscale support and enzyme has led to a much higher enzyme loading and, more importantly, increased enzyme stability .…”

Luffa cylindrica sponges as a thermally and chemically stable support for Aspergillus niger lipase

“…The systems resulting from immobilization have a great potential application in processes of esterification and transesterification, serving as effective and inexpensive biocatalysts. Such systems might be used as a biocatalyst in biodiesel production, for example in transesterification of rapeseed oil with methanol or ethanol …”

Continuous Flow Chemo-Enzymatic Baeyer–Villiger Oxidation with Superactive and Extra-Stable Enzyme/Carbon Nanotube Catalyst: An Efficient Upgrade from Batch to Flow

“…MWCNTs have been described as versatile supports for enzyme immobilization due to their small size, large surface area, mechanical/thermal stability, and other unique properties. These characteristics enable, among others, higher enzyme loadings and, more importantly, increased enzyme stability in the presence of hydrogen peroxide without the enzyme leakage. − Both noncovalent and covalent methods to immobilize various enzymes on MWCNTs have been reported . The simple, direct physical adsorption method is based on hydrophobic, van der Waals, and hydrogen-bonding interactions between MWCNTs and the enzyme macromolecules …”