Tailoring Lignin-Based Spherical Particles as a Support for Lipase Immobilization

Lignin-based spherical particles have recently gained popularity due to their characteristic and the usage of biopolymeric material. In this study, lignin-based spherical particles were prepared using choline chloride at different pH values, ranging from 2 to 10. Their dispersive, microstructural, and physicochemical properties were studied by a variety of techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and zeta potential analysis. The best results were obtained for the particles prepared at pH 5 and 7, which had a spherical shape without a tendency to form aggregates and agglomerates. The lignin-based spherical particles were used for the immobilization of lipase, a model enzyme capable of catalyzing a wide range of transformations. It was shown that the highest relative activity of immobilized lipase was obtained after 24 h of immobilization at 30 degrees C and pH 7, using 100 mg of the support. Moreover, the immobilized lipase exhibited enhanced stability under harsh process conditions, and demonstrated high reusability, up to 87% after 10 cycles, depending on the support used. In the future, the described approach to enzyme immobilization based on lignin spheres may play a significant role in the catalytic synthesis of organic and fine chemicals, with high utility value.