Activated carbons preparation from yellow mombin fruit stones for lipase immobilization

Activated carbons were prepared from yellow mombin fruit stones as carbon precursor and subsequently used as support for lipase immobilization. Carbons were prepared by chemical activation method using phosphoric acid or potassium hydroxide as activating agents. The influence of the activating agent and the carbonization temperature on the physical and chemical properties of carbons was investigated. Although carbon specific surface area increased with increasing activation temperature, there was a reduction in the number of surface functional groups. The activation with phosphoric acid resulted in higher yields and favored a higher surface area and pore volume of carbon. The optimum conditions for lipase immobilization onto activated carbons were carried out varying contact time, pH, initial enzyme concentration, and temperature. The immobilized enzymes showed good activity in both carbons, and can be considered a promising alternative as support for lipase immobilization. •Activated carbons were synthesized from the core of yellow stones mombin fruit.•The carbons were prepared by chemical activation using KOH and H3PO4.•Activated carbons with H3PO4 had higher surface area and high pore volume.•The activated agent and temperature influenced the adsorptive capacity of carbons.•The carbons have the potential to be used as support for the lipase immobilization.