Table 4 Comparison of Free and Immobilized Lipases in Various Applications [57]
Aspect | Free Lipases | Immobilized Lipases |
|---|---|---|
Activity | High initial activity, but prone to rapid loss under harsh conditions. | Slightly reduced initial activity but maintains stability over time. |
Stability | Sensitive to temperature, pH, and organic solvents. | Enhanced stability under extreme conditions (e.g., high temperature, organic solvents). |
Reusability | Single-use; not reusable, increasing production costs | Reusable in multiple cycles, reducing operational costs. |
Supports Used for Immobilization | Not applicable | Natural supports (e.g., alginate, chitosan) and synthetic supports (e.g., silica, resins). |
Applications | Suitable for one-time, small-scale reactions in laboratories | Ideal for large-scale industrial processes (e.g., biodiesel production, food industry). |
Cost Efficiency | Lower initial cost but higher operational cost due to single-use nature. | Higher initial cost but more cost-efficient in long-term industrial applications. |
Examples from Literature | Lipases from Candida rugosa used in free form for ester hydrolysis | Lipases immobilized on silica for biodiesel production, showing a 50% increase in productivity. |