• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.150-155
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• 2001

It has been observed that water, which is absolutely essential for enzyme activity, can induce the agglomeration of enzyme particles in organic media. Although enzyme agglomeration is significant in that it usually reduces enzyme activity and stability, little attention has been paid to the quantitative analysis of enzyme agglomeration behavior in nonaqueous biocatalytic systems. In this study, the effect of water and silica gel on enzyme agglomeration were investigated using Candida rugosa lipase and cyclohexane as a model enzyme and an organic medium. The extent of enzyme agglomeration was quantified by sieve analysis of freeze-dried agglomerates. Increasing the water content of the medium increased the size of the enzyme agglomerates, and it was found that water produced during the esterification reaction could also promote the agglomeration of enzyme particles suspended in organic media. On the other hand, the size of the enzyme agglomerates was remarkably reduced in the presence of silica gel at the same water content. We also show that this increase in the size of enzyme agglomerates results in lower reaction rates in organic solvents.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.271-278
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• 2013

In order to investigate the effect of gallotannin treatment to ceramide-containing fabrics on atopic skin diseases, the agglomeration of standard protein BSA and the deactivation of model enzyme were examined. The gallotannin treated on ceramide-containing fabrics precipitated the standard protein, BSA, and therefore deactivated the model enzyme by 70% at 6% treatment concentration. Wash durability should be improved after around 5 cycles of washing. Clinical test of the gallotannin-treated fabrics was carried out on mice for two test items, transepidermal water loss assay and severity score of diseased skin of mice. The results showed significant level of improvement of atopic skin diseases compared with the negative controled.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.89-98
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• 2014

A novel and simple method for the synthesis of nano-magnetite particles is disclosed. In the novel procedure, $Fe^{2+}$ is the only source of metal cation. Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) is used as the structure directing agent. The phase analysis of the nano-particles was performed using XRD and electron diffraction techniques. Size and morphology analysis was performed using light scattering and TEM techniques. The effect of $NH_4OH$ solution (32 wt. %) at different CMC concentrations on the size distribution of the final magnetite powders is studied. An optimal base concentration exists for each CMC concentration leading to minimal agglomeration. There exists a minimum CMC concentration (0.0016 wt. %), lower than that no magnetite forms. It is shown that using the new method, it is possible to immobilize a lipase enzyme (Candida Rugosa) with immobilization efficiency larger than 98 % with a loading more than 3 times the reported value in the literature. The latter phenomenon is explained based on the agglomerate state of the nano-particles in the liquid phase.