Characterization of the catalytic ability and surface properties of a heterogeneous biocatalyst obtained by the sol-gel method

A heterogeneous biocatalyst was obtained by immobilizing the cells of the yeast Debaryomyces hansenii VKM Y-2482 and the bacteria Paracoccus yeei VKM B-3302 into an organosilica material using the sol-gel method. The catalytic activity of immobilized cells was characterized using a heterogeneous biocatalyst as a bioreceptor element of the biosensor. The surface properties of the synthesized material were studied using the BET and BJH methods. It was shown that a heterogeneous biocatalyst with a composition of 50 vol.% MTES and 50 vol.% TEOS exhibited the highest catalytic efficiency. The formed material was mesoporous with slit-like pores. It was shown that the BOD-biosensor with the developed heterogeneous biocatalyst allows data to be obtained that were consistent with the certified method for determining the BOD. Graphical abstract Highlights Immobilizing together bacteria Paracoccus yeei and yeast Debaryomyces hansenii . Formation of material from methyltriethoxysilane and tetraethoxysilane. The biosensor approach for catalytic activity measures immobilized cells. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller and Barrett–Joyner–Halenda methods for the analysis of the surface. Heterogeneous biocatalyst for determining biochemical oxygen demand.