Immobilization and Kinetics of Catalase on Calcium Carbonate Nanoparticles Attached Epoxy Support

A novel hybrid epoxy/nano CaCO₃ composite matrix for catalase immobilization was prepared by polymerizing epoxy resin in the presence of CaCO₃ nanoparticles. The hybrid support was characterized using scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Catalase was successfully immobilized onto epoxy/nano CaCO₃ support with a conjugation yield of 0.67?±?0.01 mg/cm² and 92.63?±?0.80 % retention of activity. Optimum pH and optimum temperature of free and immobilized catalases were found to be 7.0 and 35 °C. The value of K _m for H₂O₂ was higher for immobilized enzyme (31.42 mM) than native enzyme (27.73 mM). A decrease in V _max value from 1,500 to 421.10 μmol (min mg protein)^?1 was observed after immobilization. Thermal and storage stabilities of catalase improved immensely after immobilization. Immobilized enzyme retained three times than the activity of free enzyme when kept at 75 °C for 1 h and the half-life of enzyme increased five times when stored in phosphate buffer (0.01 M, pH 7.0) at 5 °C. The enzyme could be reused 30 times without any significant loss of its initial activity. Desorption of catalase from the hybrid support was minimum at pH 7.0.