Biodegradable immobilized enzymes and methods of making the same

Abstract

The present application discloses immobilized enzymes and immobilized enzyme materials comprising a crosslinked enzyme having a support material which includes a biomass material different than the biomass used to initially derive the enzyme. Optionally, the immobilized enzyme further includes a polymeric material and/or the biomass which was used to initially derive the enzyme. The resulting immobilized enzyme materials may be biodegradable. The present application also discloses methods of making and using the disclosed immobilized enzyme materials.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An immobilized enzyme material comprising a crosslinked enzyme having a support matrix that includes a biomass material different from the biomass material the enzyme was derived from, wherein;
 (a) the biomass material, different from the biomass material the enzyme was derived from, has not been gelled;   (b) the crosslinked enzyme was formed by reacting the enzyme with a crosslinking material in the presence of the biomass material, and   (c) the immobilized enzyme material has a particulate form and exhibits enzymatic activity.