Immobilization of dextransucrase on functionalized TiO2 supports.

The TiO2 based hybrid supports with different functional groups (amino, glutaraldehyde or epoxy) were prepared and their influence on immobilization of dextransucrase (DS) was studied. Novel synthetic route for surface modification of TiO2 with amino and glutaraldehyde groups was developed taking advantage of charge transfer complex (CTC) formation between surface Ti atoms and salicylate-type of ligand (5­aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA)). The proposed coordination of 5-ASA to the surface of TiO2 powder and optical properties of CTC was presented. The pristine TiO2 and amino functionalized TiO2 have higher sorption capacity for DS (12.6 and 12.0mgg-1, respectively) compared to glutaraldehyde and epoxy activated supports (9.6 and 9.8mgg-1, respectively). However, immobilized enzyme to either glutaraldehyde or epoxy functionalized TiO2 have almost two times higher expressed activities compared to pristine TiO2 support (258, 235 and 142IUg-1, respectively). Thermal stability of enzyme immobilized on glutaraldehyde and epoxy functionalized supports was studied at 40°C, as well as operational stability under long-run working conditions in repeated cycles. After five cycles, DS imobilized on glutaraldehyde activated support retained almost 70% of its initial expressed activity, while, after five cycles, performance of DS immobilized on epoxy activated support was significantly lower (15%).

Utilization of spent coffee grounds for isolation and stabilization of Paenibacillus chitinolyticus CKS1 cellulase by immobilization.

This study has explored the feasibility of using spent coffee grounds as a good supporting material for the Paenibacillus chitinolyticus CKS1 cellulase immobilization. An optimal operational conditions in a batch-adsorption system were found to be: carrier mass of 12 g/L, under the temperature of 45 °C and no pH adjustments. The immobilization yield reached about 71%. An equilibrium establishment between the cellulase and the carrier surface occurred within 45 min, whereas the process kinetics may be predicted by the pseudo-second-order model. An immobilized cellulase preparation expressed very good avicelase activity, this reached up to 2.67 U/g, and revealed an improved storage stability property, compared to free enzyme sample counterpart. The addition of metal ions, such as K(+) and Mg(2+) did not affect positively immobilization yield results, but on the contrary, contributed to an improved bio-activities of the immobilized cellulase, thus may be employed before each enzyme application. The method developed in this study offers a cheap and effective alternative for immediate enzyme isolation from the production medium and its stabilization, compared to other carriers used for the immobilization.

Sugar Beet Pulp as Leuconostoc mesenteroides T3 Support for Enhanced Dextransucrase Production on Molasses.

Sugar beet pulp (SBP) and molasses, as an agro industrial waste material, are produced in large amounts annually. Thus, a major challenge nowadays is to develop procedures that could increase the value of the generated waste. In this study, SBP as a support for cell immobilization and molasses as a source of nutrients were used for a dextransucrase (DS) production by Leuconostoc mesenteroides T3. The influence of SBP in native form (SBP-N) and after treatment with NaOH (SBP-NaOH) on DS production was investigated. The optimal medium composition for the maximum DS production was determined by varying the concentration of molasses, SBP, and sucrose. The maximum DS yield of 2.02 U/ml was obtained in the medium with 2.5 % of molasses, 2.5 % SBP-NaOH, and 4 % of sucrose concentration. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed immobilization of Lc. mesenteroides T3 cells onto SBP-NaOH. According to the obtained results, the production of DS on molasses could be improved by using NaOH-treated SBP as a carrier for whole-cell immobilization. Our study reveals the basis for the development of process for DS production with additional reduction of expenses by using waste materials for obtaining the valuable biotechnological product.

Stability of the pyrethroid pesticide bifenthrin in milled wheat during thermal processing, yeast and lactic acid fermentation, and storage.

BACKGROUND: Pesticide residues have become an unavoidable part of food commodities. In the context of increased interest for food processing techniques as a tool for reducing pesticide residues, it is interesting to study the potential loss of pesticides during lactic acid and yeast fermentation. In the present paper the effect of fermentation by Lactobacillus plantarum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae and storage on 23 °C on bifenthrin in wheat was investigated. In addition, the effect of sterilisation (applied in order to avoid contamination with wild microorganism strains, i.e. to determine the individual effects of used strains) on bifenthrin degradation was tested as well. RESULTS: No significant loss of bifenthrin was observed during storage, or after the sterilisation. During the lactic acid fermentation, reduction within wheat fortified with 0.5 mg kg(-1) was 42%, while quite lower within samples fortified with 2.5 mg kg(-1) , maximum 18%. In contrast, bifenthrin concentration was not reduced during yeast fermentation, as the reduction in fortified samples was in the range of spontaneous chemical degradation during incubation period. CONCLUSION: Possible bifenthrin contamination in wheat, in amounts over the maximum residue limits, could not be reduced by sterilisation or by yeast fermentation, but lactic acid fermentation could be an effective tool for minimising residual contamination.