The cell immobilization process has potential applications in bio fuel production, enabling the reuse of cell biomass. Chemical modification of materials increases the interaction between the microorganism and the support obtaining higher percentage of immobilization. The aim of this work was to study the adhesion capacity of yeasts to chemically modified materials for their later use in the production of ethanol. Two chemical modifications on the materials were applied: 1) Increasing hydrophobicity of agave bagasse (Bag) and fiberglass (Fv) by means of fosyl and tosyl chloride, respectively. 2) Introduction of positive charges through aminopropyl grafts in Fv at acid pH (hydrophilic). Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the presence of C-H, R-SO2-OR, C=C and C-F groups in modified materials. Likewise, the contact angle test (?) demonstrated that both modified materials fosylated and tosylated, which showed higher hydrophobicity ((?) = 54.8 � and 58.6 �, respectively) in comparison with the starting material. The ninhydrin method showed the presence of amino groups in the Fv aminopropyl. The modified materials and an anionic resin Amberlite IR400 (RaAIR400) were employed as supports for the immobilization of 33 yeasts of the genus Saccharomyces sp. 51% of the strains showed a hydrophobic cell surface determined by its preferential partitioning in hexadecane and xylene. Fosylated (Bag) and aminopropylated (Fv) materials were the most efficient for the immobilization of yeast reaching values of 88 and 72%, respectively. Additionally, the immobilization achieved in this last support was very similar to the one obtained in the RaAIR400 used as a control. The adhesion of cells could also be observed by photomicrographs. These materials will be employing in the production of bio ethanol in the next step of this project.

Yeast immobilization on chemically modified materials for later use in the production of ethanol

247th National Meeting (2014)

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