Immobilisation of ω-transaminase for industrial application: Screening and characterisation of commercial ready to use enzyme carriers

Despite of the advantages that enzyme immobilisation can bring to industrial biocatalysis, its utilisation is still limited to a small number of enzymes and processes. Transaminase catalysed processes are a good example where immobilisation can be of major importance and even decisive for economic feasibility. This work presents results obtained for screening of enzyme carriers for immobilisation of ω-transaminase for industrial application. A total of 6 commercial enzyme carriers (polymeric resins) were screened and two suitable enzyme carriers were selected for immobilisation of both (S)- and (R)-selective ω-transaminases. These carriers allowed the re-use of the immobilised enzyme for 8 cycles of 24 h each, under relevant process conditions, corresponding to approximately 250 h of operation, with more than 50% of the initial activity retained. Likewise the stability towards higher temperatures and possibility to store the biocatalyst for more than 70 days (at room temperature) were obtained as result of the immobilisation on the selected supports.