BACKGROUND: Biotechnology has revolutionized the use of enzymes for application in industrial processes. The present work evaluated the effect of functionalizing activated carbon with metallic nanoparticles obtained from corn cob residue on lipase immobilization. The aim was to improve the enzymatic activity of the immobilized enzyme and subsequent application of derivatives in the synthesis of isoamyl acetate ester (banana flavor).
RESULTS:The activated carbon (CCAC) had a mesoporous structure and specific surface area of 1135 m 2 g −1 , characteristic of supports from precursor material with a high cellulose content, which was reduced in metalized carbon (CCACM) due to the insertion of metallic particles (760 m 2 g −1 ). CCACM showed a slightly higher lipase absorptive capacity than CCAC (280.72 ± 0.27 mg g −1 and 276.46 ± 0.03 mg g −1 , respectively). Furthermore, for derivatives the optimal reaction medium conditions were pH 7.0 and 30 °C, confirming the advantage associated with lipase immobilization, obtaining activity values of 84.0 ± 2.12 U, 72.3 ± 1.7 U and 31.4 ± 1.9 U, for lipase immobilized on CCACM, CCAC and native form, respectively. The derivatives showed potential application in the synthesis of isoamyl acetate ester, with conversions above 90% and stability during five cycles of use.
CONCLUSION:The activated carbon metallization process showed an increase in lipase immobilization efficiency and proved to be a promising support, since there was an increase in its enzymatic activity and the derivatives obtained showed potential application in aroma synthesis, reaching conversion above 90%.