Immobilization of Lipase from Candida Rugosa on Palm-Based Polyurethane Foam as a Support Material

Lipase from Candida rugosa was immobilized onto palm-based polyurethane foam (PU), which the polymer was pre-soaked in co-immobilized agent. The activities of PU-immobilized lipase were tested by the esterification reaction of oleic acid and oleyl alcohol in hexane. The PU-immobilized lipase was then characterized in term of its thermal, operational and storage stability. The optimum temperature for native and PU-immobilized lipase was at 40oC. This shows that the immobilization did not alter the general character of the lipase. The PU-immobilized lipase shows different enzymatic characteristic-incubation time, enzyme concentration, solvent and operational stability compared to Lipozyme IM. The reuse stability of PU-immobilized lipase was at least four cycles. The % conversion above 80% was still achieved for the sample stored at -5oC after 9 days storage.