Functionalized activated carbon as support for trypsin immobilization and its application in casein hydrolysis

This study aimed to immobilize trypsin on activated carbon submitted to different surface modifications and its application in casein hydrolysis. With the aim of determining which support can promote better maintenance of the immobilized enzyme. Results showed that pH 5.0 was obtained as optimal for immobilization and pH 9.0 for the casein hydrolysis reaction for activated carbon and glutaraldehyde functionalized carbon. Among the supports used, activated carbon modified with iron ions in the presence of a chelating agent was the one that showed best results, under the conditions evaluated in this study. Presenting an immobilization yield of 95.15% and a hydrolytic activity of 4.11 U, same as soluble enzyme (3.76 U). This derivative kept its activity stable at temperatures above 40 °C for1 h and when stored for 30 days at 5 °C. Furthermore, it was effective for more than 6 reuse cycles (under the same conditions as the 1st cycle). In general, immobilization of trypsin on metallized activated carbon can be an alternative to biocatalysis, highlighting the advantages of protease immobilization.

Pepsin immobilization: Influence of carbon support functionalization

Among the matrices for enzyme immobilization, activated carbon has been standing out in immobilization processes due to its properties and to its characteristics that provide superficial modification by inserting new functional groups capable of binding the enzymes forming covalent bonds. In this study the effect of different modification methods of activated carbon (functionalization with genipin, metallization, metallization in the presence of chelating agent, and functionalization with glutaraldehyde) on efficiency of pepsin immobilization was evaluated. The effect of immobilization pH and the reaction medium on hydrolysis activity of bovine casein was also evaluated. The functionalization of activated carbon using iron ions allowed an immobilization capacity of 98.93 mg·g^-1, with immobilization efficiency greater than 99%, and enzyme activity of 2.30 U, which was higher than the other modifications, and closer to the enzyme in the native form activity (3.32 U). In general, the carbon surface modifications were responsible for forming more stable bonds between support and enzyme, improving its proteolytic activity (from 1.84 to 2.30 U) when compared to traditional immobilization methods by adsorption and covalent binding using glutaraldehyde (from 1.04 to 1.1 U).

Hydrolysis of casein from different sources by immobilized trypsin on biochar: Effect of immobilization method

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of the immobilization method of trypsin on biochar on the hydrolysis of casein from different sources, when compared to the process using trypsin in native form, to obtain bioactive peptides. The modification of the surface of biochar with glutaraldehyde was effective, as shown by the results of FTIR assay and the texture profile of the materials. Both activated and functionalized biochar showed high immobilization efficiency (greater than 87%) and high binding capacity (greater than 91 mg/g). During hydrolysis, the biocatalyst obtained by enzyme immobilization on the functionalized biochar presented a higher hydrolysis capacity for the different caseins when compared to the enzyme immobilized by adsorption, with values of 3.05 and 2.73 U/mg for goat casein, 2.36 and 1.85 U/mg for bovine casein, and 2.60 and 2.37 U/mg for buffalo, casein, respectively, with 60 min of reaction. The results of inhibitory activity in this study ranged from 93.5% and 25.5% for trypsin in its free form and immobilized on functionalized activated carbon, respectively, under the same reaction conditions. The immobilization methods were efficient, presenting high immobilization capacity. The proteolytic activity of trypsin immobilized via covalent binding was higher when compared the immobilization by adsorption. Thus, the functionalized biochar has proven to be potential support for enzyme immobilization, and the biocatalyst can be reused for more than 4 cycles. Despite lower ACE inhibition values of hydrolyzed obtained with the immobilized enzymes compared to free enzymes, biocatalysts present advantage due to the possibility of reuse.

Partitioning Behavior of Lysozyme and α-lactalbumin in Aqueous Two-Phase System Formed by Ionic Liquids and Potassium Phosphate

Nowadays ionic liquids (ILs), because of their “green” characteristics, have been used for analytical and separation processes. Therefore the partitioning of lysozyme and α-lactalbumin using aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) composed of an ionic liquid (chloride 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium) and inorganic salts (K2HPO4, KH2PO4) was studied. Phase equilibrium diagrams were obtained to explore the effect of the different temperatures (293.15, 303.15, 313.15, and 323.15) K and pH (7.5, 8.0, and 8.5) used for the partitioning studies. For both proteins, partition coefficients decreased with increasing temperature. The pH influenced the partition coefficients of lysozyme and α-lactalbumin. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔH◦, ΔS◦, ΔG◦) indicate thermodynamic differences between the partitioning of lysozyme and α-lactalbumin in this system. The ΔH◦, ΔS◦, and ΔG◦values of the process studied showed that this process is spontaneous. This work demonstrates the possible use of ATPSs with ILs and inorganic salts as a methodology for the partitioning of lysozyme and α-lactalbumin.

Greenhouse gases inventory and carbon balance of two dairy systems obtained from two methane-estimation methods

The adoption of carbon inventories for dairy farms in tropical countries based on models developed from animals and diets of temperate climates is questionable. Thus, the objectives of this study were to estimate enteric methane (CH4) emissions through the SF6 tracer gas technique and through equations proposed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Tier 2 and to calculate the inventory of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from two dairy systems. In addition, the carbon balance of these properties was estimated using enteric CH4 emissions obtained using both methodologies. In trial 1, the CH4 emissions were estimated from seven Holstein dairy cattle categories based on the SF6 tracer gas technique and on IPCC equations. The categories used in the study were prepubertal heifers (n=6); pubertal heifers (n=4); pregnant heifers (n=5); high-producing (n=6); medium-producing (n=5); low-producing (n=4) and dry cows (n=5). Enteric methane emission was higher for the category comprising prepubertal heifers when estimated by the equations proposed by the IPCC Tier 2. However, higher CH4 emissions were estimated by the SF6 technique in the categories including medium- and high-producing cows and dry cows. Pubertal heifers, pregnant heifers, and low-producing cows had equal CH4 emissions as estimated by both methods. In trial 2, two dairy farms were monitored for one year to identify all activities that contributed in any way to GHG emissions. The total emission from Farm 1 was 3.21t CO2e/animal/yr, of which 1.63t corresponded to enteric CH4. Farm 2 emitted 3.18t CO2e/animal/yr, with 1.70t of enteric CH4. IPCC estimations can underestimate CH4 emissions from some categories while overestimate others. However, considering the whole property, these discrepancies are offset and we would submit that the equations suggested by the IPCC properly estimate the total CH4 emission and carbon balance of the properties. Thus, the IPCC equations should be utilized with caution, and the herd composition should be analysed at the property level. When the carbon stock in pasture and other crops was considered, the carbon balance suggested that both farms are sustainable for GHG, by both methods. On the other hand, carbon balance without carbon stock, by both methods, suggests that farms emit more carbon than the system is capable of stock.