Adsorption of cellulase on poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) cryogels containing phenylalanine

The aim of this study was to prepare a supermacroporous cryogel that can be used for the adsorption of cellulase. The macroporous cryogel of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-N-methacryloyl-L-phenylalanine) [p(HEMA-MAPA)] was prepared by copolymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) with a functional monomer of N-methacryloyl-L-phenylalanine (MAPA). The cryogel was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and swelling tests. The effects of several parameters such as medium pH, temperature, ionic strength, and flow rate on cellulase adsorption were also investigated. Maximum cellulase adsorption was observed at 25 degrees C and pH 4.0. Furthermore, adsorbed cellulase was desorbed from the cryogel by using 1.0 M NaCl. The p(HEMA-MAPA) cryogel could be used many times without the cellulase adsorption capacity decreasing significantly.