Cellulase is a group of enzyme which catalyzes the hydrolysis of cellulose to produce oligosaccharides and glucose. However, cellulase is highly soluble in water. In this study, we report the preparation of uniform cross-linked cellulase aggregate (XCA) by using a millifluidic reactor which consists two inlets and a Y-junction. In this reactor, the cellulase solution is mixed with acetonitrile (as a precipitant) and 20 mM of glutaraldehyde (as a cross-linker) at the Y-junction. Subsequently, uniform XCA, with an average size between 200 nm and 400 nm, can be formed inside the reactor. Unlike free cellulase, XCA is insoluble such that it can be filtered out from the solution. It can be used alone or absorb on silica gel (XCA-Si) as a catalyst for hydrolyzing cellulose. Interestingly, XCA-Si shows highest activity at pH 4.8 and 50 °C, which is similar to the optimal condition of free cellulase. Moreover, XCA-Si is more stable than free cellulase at high temperature (&gt;60<sup>o</sup>C). It precipitates naturally and can be recycled at least 5 times after the hydrolysis of cellulose.

Uniform cross-linked cellulase aggregates prepared in millifluidic reactors

249th National Meeting (2015)

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