POTENTIAL USE OF BAGASSE AS A CHEAP SOURCE OF CELLULOSE FOR THE IMMOBILIZATION OF UREASE ENZYME BY ADSORPTION

Bagasse as the cheap biomaterials for immobilization of enzymes

Abstract

Abstract

Bagasse is a valuable biomaterial produced as a waste of sugar processing industry. In Pakistan it is mainly used
as source of fuel and in paper industry. Bagasse can be used as an economical source for the production of cellulose
and cellulose derivatives, which are widely used in industries and pharmaceuticals. In the present work cellulose
was extracted from bagasse using acid and basic hydrolysis followed by bleaching with sodium chlorate. The
extracted cellulose was activated thermally at 250οC. The extracted cellulose (native) and thermally activated
cellulose was used as carrier for the immobilization of Urease enzyme. The immobilization efficiency of the
different carriers was studied as a function of contact time, temperature, pH, carrier dosage and enzyme
concentration. The maximum immobilization efficiency for the different types of carriers was found at contact
time: 1.0 H at adsorbent dose: 0.5 g., pH: 7, temp: 25C◦, Enzyme conc: 1mg/mL. The results of this study show
that bagasse and other agriculture residues which are rich in lignocelluloses’ materials can be efficiently employed
in cost effective immobilization technologies.