Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Vol.174, No.8, 2941-2950, 2014
Immobilization of Pectinesterase in Genipin-Crosslinked Chitosan Membrane for Low Methoxyl Pectin Production
In this study, an environmentally friendly method for preparation of chitosan crosslinked membranes with different genipin concentrations (0, 125, 250, and 500 mg/L) was developed. Genipin-crosslinked chitosan membranes were used for the immobilization of fungal pectinesterase (PE). PE was efficiently immobilized in chitosan membranes and used for modification of high-methoxylated pectins into low-methoxylated pectins. The charge density (zeta-potential), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and ion-exchange chromatography (IEC) revealed the modification of pectin for immobilized PE in genipin-crosslinked chitosan membrane. The zeta-potential results indicated a decrease of -5.2 mV in the pectin control solution, whereas using the PE immobilized in chitosan and genipin-chitosan membranes, the obtained values were -30.45 mV and -36.38 mV, respectively. Genipin-crosslinked chitosan membrane jointly with the immobilized PE represents an eco-friendly support to prepare tailor-made low-methoxylated lime pectin.