Enhanced Catalytic Performance of Trichoderma reesei Cellulase Immobilized on Magnetic Hierarchical Porous Carbon Nanoparticles

Cellulase from Trichoderma reesei was immobilized by covalent or non-covalent binding onto magnetic hierarchical porous carbon (MHPC) nanomaterials. The immobilization yield and the enzyme activity were higher when covalent immobilization approach was followed. The covalent immobilization approach leads to higher immobilization yield (up to 96%) and enzyme activity (up to 1.35 U mg −1 ) compared to the non-covalent cellulase binding. The overall results showed that the thermal, storage and operational stability of the immobilized cellulase was considerably improved compared to the free enzyme. The immobilized cellulose catalyzed the hydrolysis of microcrystalline cellulose up to 6 consecutive successive reaction cycles, with a total operation time of 144 h at 50 °C. The half-life time of the immobilized enzyme in deep eutectic solvents-based media was up to threefold higher compared to the soluble enzyme. The increased pH and temperature tolerance of the immobilized cellulase, as well as the increased operational stability in aqueous and deep eutectic solvents-based media indicate that the use of MHPCs as immobilization nanosupport could expand the catalytic performance of cellulolytic enzymes in various reaction conditions.