A Reusable Biomimetic Magnetic Nanoenzyme for Cellulosic Biomass Degradation

Synthesis of reusable biomimetic enzymes was generated with the goal of cost-effective production of the enzyme for the application in bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass. The current report describes the preparation and characterization of a biomimetic magnetic nanoenzyme (BMNE), functionalized with a carboxylic acid group that hydrolyzes beta-1,4-glycosidic bonds with high catalytic efficiency. The nanometer scale of a BMNE allows it to structurally mimic the active sites of biomass-degrading enzymes. The BMNE functioned optimally at pH 3. The combination of BMNE with natural enzymes had a synergistic action on rice straw, increasing sugar release by 29.7 % and reducing hydrolysis time relative to the natural enzyme alone. The BMNE retained significant activity after five consecutive reaction cycles.