Characterization of glucoamylase immobilized on magnetic nanoparticles

Magnetic support was prepared by precipitation from an alkaline solution of divalent and trivalent iron ions and subsequently was modified with 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane. FTIR analysis showed existence of a new Si–O–Fe bond in obtained particles. Scanning electronic microscopy images shows that the nanoparticles of all samples have particle size below 30 nm. Glucoamylase AMG 300L was immobilized onto the modified magnetic support using glutaraldehyde as a coupling agent. Obtained preparations had specific activity of 148 U/g of the support when measured at 55°C using maltose as substrate. The immobilized enzyme exhibited mass transfer limitation as reflected by a higher apparent K_m value and a lower energy of activation. The immobilization was almost completely terminated after 30 min of the reaction at 30°C. The highest immobilization yield of the enzyme was achieved at glutaraldehyde concentration of 10 mM. The immobilization did not influence considerably on optimum pH and temperature of substrate hydrolysis catalyzed by investigated enzyme (55°C, pH 4.5). Moreover, immobilized glucoamylase was easily separated from the reaction medium by an external magnetic field and retained about 60% of initial activity after nine repeated cycles of enzyme reaction followed by magnetic separation.