Catalytic Performances of Chemically Immobilized Urease Under Static and Dynamic Conditions: a Comparative Study

Abstract

Immobilized urease has been used for direct removal of urea from aqueous solution and as biological sensing material in the preparation of urea biosensors. The former application is carried out under dynamic condition using ultrafiltration membrane either in tubular form or in flat sheet, while the latter is used in static condition. In this study, the performance of chemically immobilized urease on poly(acrylonitrile-co-sodium methallyl sulfonate) ultrafiltration membrane was determined under both static and dynamic conditions. Results reveal that the immobilization enhanced the thermal and storage stabilities of urease. The hydraulic permeability of urea solution was not influenced by the addition of enzyme layer. The maximum reaction rate measured under pressure in the ultrafiltration unit was found higher compared to the rate observed just under mixing without any pressure applied. The highest urea conversion was found at the lowest transmembrane pressure and the urea concentration in the feed solution. The catalytic activity of the membrane was completely preserved at the end of 450 min of filtration.