Research

Engineering Sciences

Title :

Co-immobilization of the different hydrolytic enzymes from newly isolated fungal sources on magnetic nanoparticles: application in upscaling of agro residues into nano celluloses using enzyme-assisted homogenization process

Area of research :

Engineering Sciences

Principal Investigator :

Prof. Virendra Kisan Rathod, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, Maharashtra

Timeline Start Year :

2024

Timeline End Year :

2027

Contact info :

Equipments :

Details

Executive Summary :

Mumbai city is a major producer of various crops, including rice, sorghum, pigeon peas, green gram, wheat, groundnut, gram, and pulses. Large-scale farming generates tons of agricultural biomasses, which are often discarded or burned, causing environmental pollution. Xyloglucan, xylan, and cellulose are abundant polysaccharides in plant cell walls and seeds that require different hydrolytic enzymes for depolymerization. A laboratory project isolated fungi with multi-enzyme-producing capabilities, with 10 out of 20 fungi producing both xylanase and cellulase. These enzymes are used in the enzymatic hydrolysis of various lignocellulosic biomass for the production of fermentable sugars and other industrially important chemicals. The study aims to investigate all 10 fungi for the secretion of other multienzyme complexes, including xylanases and cellulases. Co-localization strategies for specific enzymes may have a significant beneficial effect on bioprocesses, as suggested by natural multienzyme complexes. The immobilization of multienzyme nanoparticles is the preferred method for this process. The resulting enzymes and their complexes will be co-immobilized on magnetic nanoparticles and characterized using methods like FTIR and particle size. Enzyme technology has made significant progress in preparing nano celluloses, and co-immobilized enzymes will be used for upcycling nano cellulose using different agricultural residues, potentially preparing high-performance biofilms.

Total Budget (INR):

41,63,368

Organizations involved