%0 Journal Article
%T Immobilization of -Amylase onto Luffa operculata Fibers
%A Ricardo R. Morais
%A Aline M. Pascoal
%A Samantha S. Caramori
%A Flavio M. Lopes
%A K¨¢tia F. Fernandes
%J Enzyme Research
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/803415
%X A commercial amylase (amy) was immobilized by adsorption onto Luffa operculata fibers (LOFs). The derivative LOF-amy presented capacity to hydrolyze starch continuously and repeatedly for over three weeks, preserving more than 80% of the initial activity. This system hydrolyzed more than 97% of starch during 5£¿min, at room temperature. LOF-amy was capable to hydrolyze starch from different sources, such as maize (93.96%), wheat (85.24%), and cassava (79.03%). A semi-industrial scale reactor containing LOF-amy was prepared and showed the same yield of the laboratory-scale system. After five cycles of reuse, the LOF-amy reactor preserved over 80% of the initial amylase activity. Additionally, the LOF-amy was capable to operate as a kitchen grease trap component in a real situation during 30 days, preserving 30% of their initial amylase activity. 1. Introduction Amylases figure among the most studied enzymes for biotechnology and industrial purposes [1, 2]. They are used in many industrial fields, including food, detergent, textile, and paper industries [3¨C5]. A main problem of food industries, particularly bakeries, pastries, and industrial kitchens, is the starch waste produced from machines, cans, and containers washing. This waste can obstruct industrial ducts causing several damages and financial losses. An alternative to avoid these losses is the continuous use of detergents containing high concentration of amylase. Nevertheless, they are more expensive than the nonenzymatic detergents, making them not attractive and impracticable for small business. To solve these inconvenient, immobilized enzymes may play a remarkable role, once their main advantage is the repeated use, which considerably reduces the costs [6¨C8]. Among the several available methods of immobilization, adsorption is the cheapest one considering the reagents and time employed [9¨C13]. This method should be considered when the costs of the final product are a limiting factor for the process. For this purpose, the material of the support must be considered, once its destination cannot cause environmental damages. Natural organic materials are promising candidates for large-scale processes, because of their biodegradability behavior, permitting the use of these substances as clean devices in the environment [14]. In this study, a commercial thermostable -amylase was immobilized by adsorption onto Luffa operculata fibers (LOFs). The system LOF-amy was used for continuous starch hydrolysis and wastewater treatment in kitchen grease traps. 2. Material and Methods Luffa operculata L. fruits
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/er/2013/803415/