An economical, simple and high yield procedure for the immobilization/ stabilization of peroxidases from turnip roots

Abstract

Ammonium sulphate fractionated peroxidases from turnip roots (Brassica rapa) were entrapped in calcium alginate gels for high yield immobilization of enzymes. Enzymes were cross-linked with 0.5 per cent glutaraldehyde to increase the molecular dimension of the enzyme; this resulted in the loss of 8 per cent of enzyme activity. Alginate entrapped soluble and cross-linked peroxidases exhibited high stability against temperature, pH, urea and storage than the soluble preparation and were markedly more stable as compared to directly entrapped soluble enzyme preparation. Entrapped cross-linked peroxidase preparation showed retention of very high enzyme activity after six repeated uses. Alginate entrapped soluble peroxidase preparation rapidly lost its activity after each use. The results suggested that such preparations have great potential in the construction of bioreactors to be used for the removal of aromatic compounds from polluted wastewaters/industrial effluents.