Calcium-based MOFs as scaffolds for shielding immobilized lipase and enhancing its stability.

The enzyme immobilization technology has become a key tool in the field of enzyme applications; however, improving the activity recovery and stability of the immobilized enzymes is still challenging. Herein, we employed a magnetic carboxymethyl cellulose (MCMC) nanocomposite modified with ionic liquids (ILs) for covalent immobilization of lipase, and used Ca-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as the support skeleton and protective layer for immobilized enzymes. The ILs contained long side chains (eight CH2 units), which not only enhanced the hydrophobicity of the carrier and its hydrophobic interaction with the enzymes, but also provided a certain buffering effect when the enzyme molecules were subjected to compression. Compared to free lipase, the obtained CaBPDC@PPL-IL-MCMC exhibited higher specific activity and enhanced stability. In addition, the biocatalyst could be easily separated using a magnetic field, which is beneficial for its reusability. After 10 cycles, the residual activity of CaBPDC@PPL-IL-MCMC could reach up to 86.9%. These features highlight the good application prospects of the present immobilization method.

Hydrogenation Catalysis by Hydrogen Spillover on Platinum-Functionalized Heterogeneous Boronic Acid-Polyoxometalates.

The activation of molecular hydrogen is a key process in catalysis. Here, we demonstrate how polyoxometalate (POM)-based heterogeneous compounds functionalized with Platinum particles activate H2 by synergism between a hydrogen spillover mechanism and electron-proton transfer by the POM. This interplay facilitates the selective catalytic reduction of olefins and nitroarenes with high functional group tolerance. A family of polyoxotungstates covalently functionalized with boronic acids is reported. In the solid-state, the compounds are held together by non-covalent interactions (π-π stacking and hydrogen bonding). The resulting heterogeneous nanoscale particles form stable colloidal dispersions in acetonitrile and can be surface-functionalized with platinum nanoparticles by in situ photoreduction. The resulting materials show excellent catalytic activity in hydrogenation of olefins and nitrobenzene derivatives under mild conditions (1 bar H2 and room temperature).

Preparation and Characterization of Magnetic Metal-Organic Frameworks Functionalized by Ionic Liquid as Supports for Immobilization of Pancreatic Lipase.

Enzymes are difficult to recycle, which limits their large-scale industrial applications. In this work, an ionic liquid-modified magnetic metal-organic framework composite, IL-Fe3O4@UiO-66-NH2, was prepared and used as a support for enzyme immobilization. The properties of the support were characterized with X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), and so on. The catalytic performance of the immobilized enzyme was also investigated in the hydrolysis reaction of glyceryl triacetate. Compared with soluble porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL), immobilized lipase (PPL-IL-Fe3O4@UiO-66-NH2) had greater catalytic activity under reaction conditions. It also showed better thermal stability and anti-denaturant properties. The specific activity of PPL-IL-Fe3O4@UiO-66-NH2 was 2.3 times higher than that of soluble PPL. After 10 repeated catalytic cycles, the residual activity of PPL-IL-Fe3O4@UiO-66-NH2 reached 74.4%, which was higher than that of PPL-Fe3O4@UiO-66-NH2 (62.3%). In addition, kinetic parameter tests revealed that PPL-IL-Fe3O4@UiO-66-NH2 had a stronger affinity to the substrate and, thus, exhibited higher catalytic efficiency. The results demonstrated that Fe3O4@UiO-66-NH2 modified by ionic liquids has great potential for immobilized enzymes.