Ca-alginate spheres behavior in presence of some solvents and water-solvent mixtures
ABSTRACT
Immobilization systems more frequently used are calcium alginate spheres. These biocatalysts have many potential applications in the immobilization of enzymes, prokaryotic cells, vegetal and animal cells, algae, organelles and mixtures of these living components. Other applications of immobilized cells imply the use of non aqueous systems. Some bioconversions are carried out in the presence of solvents such as hexane acetone or acetonitrile, or mixtures water-solvents. The aim of this work was to investigate the behaviour of Ca-alginate spheres when put in contact with different solvents (water, diesel, ethanol, methanol, acetone, n-hexane, isopropyl alcohol, THF, acetonitrile, and toluene), or solvent-water mixtures (i.e., ethanol-water), regarding the resistance of the alginate spheres after days of contact. Calcium alginate particles suffered different damages, depending on the solvent they were put in contact. Water did not damaged the Ca-alginate structure with or without Ca present. On the other hand different solvents lost a proportion of volume, i.e., n-hexane (16%), methanol (19%), ethanol (19.5%), toluene (22%), diesel (34%), acetone (765), isopropyl alcohol (80%), THF and acetonitrile (total loss, total destruction). Nor the dielectric constant nor the polarity indexes were capable of explaining the difference on the volume loss or total sphere destruction, except for water-ethanol mixtures.
Immobilization systems more frequently used are calcium alginate spheres. These biocatalysts have many potential applications in the immobilization of enzymes, prokaryotic cells, vegetal and animal cells, algae, organelles and mixtures of these living components. Other applications of immobilized cells imply the use of non aqueous systems. Some bioconversions are carried out in the presence of solvents such as hexane acetone or acetonitrile, or mixtures water-solvents. The aim of this work was to investigate the behaviour of Ca-alginate spheres when put in contact with different solvents (water, diesel, ethanol, methanol, acetone, n-hexane, isopropyl alcohol, THF, acetonitrile, and toluene), or solvent-water mixtures (i.e., ethanol-water), regarding the resistance of the alginate spheres after days of contact. Calcium alginate particles suffered different damages, depending on the solvent they were put in contact. Water did not damaged the Ca-alginate structure with or without Ca present. On the other hand different solvents lost a proportion of volume, i.e., n-hexane (16%), methanol (19%), ethanol (19.5%), toluene (22%), diesel (34%), acetone (765), isopropyl alcohol (80%), THF and acetonitrile (total loss, total destruction). Nor the dielectric constant nor the polarity indexes were capable of explaining the difference on the volume loss or total sphere destruction, except for water-ethanol mixtures.
Cite this paper
nullTorres, L. , Velasquez, A. and Brito-Arias, M. (2011) Ca-alginate spheres behavior in presence of some solvents and water-solvent mixtures. Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology, 2, 8-12. doi: 10.4236/abb.2011.21002.
nullTorres, L. , Velasquez, A. and Brito-Arias, M. (2011) Ca-alginate spheres behavior in presence of some solvents and water-solvent mixtures. Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology, 2, 8-12. doi: 10.4236/abb.2011.21002.
References
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[1] Mulson, S. (2007) Ethanol production booming on demand. Washington Post, January 23, 2007. [2] Morris, M. and Hill, A. (2007) Ethanol opportunities and questions. http://www.attra.ncat.org [3] Kewellow, H., Heipieper, H.-J. and Rehm, H.-J. (1989) Protection of bacteria against toxicity of phenol by immobilization in calcium alginate, Applied Micro- biology and Biotechnology, 31, 283-389. [4] Smisrod, O. and Skajak-Braek, G. (1990) Alginate as immobilization matrix for cells, Trends in Biotechnology, 8, 71-78. doi:10.1016/0167-7799(90)90139-O [5] Chevalier, P. and de la Noue, J. (1998) Behavior of algae and bacteria co-immobilized in carrageninana, in a fluidized bed, Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 10, 9-24. [6] Hedstrom, G., Backlund, S., Erickson, F. and Karlsson, S. (1998) Lipase-catalyzed stereoselective esterifications using gelatine-based hydrogels, Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 10, 379-384. doi:10.1016/S0927-7765(98)00015-0 [7] Hertzberg, S., Kvittingen, L., Anthonsen, T. and Skjak- Braek, G. (1992) Alginate as immobilization matrix and stabilizing agent in a two-pase liquid system: Application in lipase-catalysed reactions, Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 14, 42-47. doi:10.1016/0141-0229(92)90024-I [8] Torres, L.G, Sanchez-de-la-Vega, A., Beltran, N.A. and Jimenez, B.E. (1998) Production and characterization of a Ca-alginate biocatalyst for removal of phenol and chlorophenols from wastewaters, Process Biochemistry, 33, 625-634. doi:10.1016/S0032-9592(98)00026-0 [9] Farji, M., Farajtabar, A. and Oharib, F. (2009) Determination of water-ethanol mixtures autotpotolysis cons- tants and solvent effect, Journal of Applied Chemistry Research, 9, 7-12.