Immobilization of Trichoderma harzianum α-amylase on treated wool: optimization and characterization.

α-Amylase from Trichoderma harzianum was covalently immobilized on activated wool by cyanuric chloride. Immobilized α-amylase exhibited 75% of its initial activity after 10 runs. The soluble and immobilized α-amylases exhibited maximum activity at pH values 6.0 and 6.5, respectively. The immobilized enzyme was more thermally stable than the soluble one. Various substrates were hydrolyzed by immobilized α-amylase with high efficiencies compared to those of soluble α-amylase. The inhibition of the immobilized α-amylase by metal ions was low as compared with soluble enzyme. On the basis of the results obtained, immobilized α-amylase could be employed in the saccharification of starch processing.