Immobilization of lipase using egg shell and alginate as carriers: optimization of reaction conditions

The use of egg shell and alginate as carriers for lipase were studied and the kinetic parameters K-m and V-max were found out. These values were compared with those obtained for free lipase. The reaction conditions were optimized at a pH of 6.0-6.5, temperature at 40 degrees C and the time of reaction for 40 minutes. 600 mu l of free enzyme, 30 numbers of alginate beads with lipase and 2.5 mg of egg shell, loaded with lipase. The critical reaction velocity in case of free lipase, lipase adsorbed on egg shell and entrapped in alginate was found to be 53.779 I.U., 37.450 I.U., 31.543 I.U. respectively. It was found that the egg shell loaded with lipase could be reused for 8 times while the alginate beads only for 4 times. It was finally concluded that egg shell was an efficient carrier as far as lipase was concerned, especially in presence of an insoluble substrate.