Clay-enzyme complexes and method for preparing same

• US 4,605,621 A
• Filed: 11/29/1984
• Issued: 08/12/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michigan State University
• Original Assignee: Michigan State University
• Inventors: Pinnavaia, Thomas J., Boyd, Stephen A., Mortland, Max M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schain, Howard E.
• Application Number:
  US06/676,171
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 435/176, 435/177, 435/190, 435/200, 435/207
• US Class Current: 435/177
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 11/14 Enzymes or microbial cells immobilised on or in an inorganic carrier
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/00 Enzymes; Proenzymes; Compositions thereof preparations containing enzymes for cleaning teeth A61K8/66, A61Q11/00; medicinal preparations containing enzymes or proenzymes A61K38/43; enzyme containing detergent compositions C11D; enzymes with nucleic acid structure, e.g. ribozymes, C12N15/113; Processes for preparing, activating, inhibiting, separating or purifying enzymes preparation of malt C12C1/00

Abstract

Immobilized enzymes are prepared by reacting an enzyme to be immobilized with an organoclay. The immobilized enzymes are enzyme-organoclay complexes in which the binding is substantially pH independent.

Claims

1. A method for preparing immobilized enzymes which comprises reacting an enzyme to be immobilized with an organoclay comprising a clay selected from the group consisting of smectite type clays, hectorite and vermiculite, at least some cations of which have been replaced by onium ions and/or organometallic cations to render the clay hydrophobic.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the reaction is carried out in an aqueous medium.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein an aqueous solution of said enzyme is admixed with an aqueous dispersion of said organoclay.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein said enzyme solution contains a buffer and said organoclay dispersion is buffered.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said organoclay comprises a hydrophobic-modified smectite clay.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said organoclay comprises an enzyophyllic onium smectite clay.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein said organoclay comprises an organophillic ammonium montmorillonite clay.

8. Immobilized enzyme compositions comprising enzyme organoclay complexes, the organoclay used comprising a clay selected from the group consisting of smectite type clays, hectorite and vermiculite, at least some cations of which have been replaced by onium ions and/or organometallic cations to render the clay hydrophobic.

9. The immobilized enzyme composition according to claim 8 wherein said organoclay comprises a hydrophobic-modified smectite clay.

10. The immobilized enzyme composition according to claim 8 wherein said organoclay comprises an organophillic onium smectite clay.

11. The immobilized enzyme composition according to claim 8 wherein said organoclay comprises an organophillic ammonium montmorillonite clay.

12. The immobilized enzyme composition according to claim 8 wherein said enzyme is glucose oxidase or urease.

13. The immobilized enzyme composition according to claim 8 wherein said enzyme-organoclay complex comprises up to a 40 weight percent of said enzyme based on the weight of said organoclay.

14. A method for purification or separating of enzymes and protein mixtures which comprises admixing an organoclay comprising a clay selected from the group consisting of smectite type clays, hectorite and vermiculite, at least some cations of which have been replaced by onium ions and/or organometallic cations, which an enzyme-containing omposition and recovering the enzyme-organoclay complex reaction product.