Immobilized Enzymes and Industry

Enzymes are very commonly used in many different industries, including medicine, food and
nutrition, agriculture, energy production and biotechnology. This is because they can speed up the
rate of many industrial processes. They are highly specific as they only catalyze a specific reaction,
efficient in that a small quantity of enzyme catalyzes the production of a large quantity of product
since they can be reused many times, and are effective at normal temperatures and pressures,
reducing the amount of energy that is required to maintain these conditions.

The enzymes used in industry are usually immobilized to allow for easier use.

One common use of immobilized enzymes is the use of the enzyme lactase in the production of
lactose-free milk. Use your study guide page 26 and your textbook pages 83-84, as well as the
internet if necessary, to answer the following questions.

1. What is an immobilized enzyme? ______________________________________________

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2. Outline one method by which enzymes are immobilized. ___________________________

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3. Why is it advantageous to immobilize an enzyme before using it in an industrial process (3

reasons)? ________________________________________________________________
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4. What is lactose? __________________________________________________________

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5. What is the reaction that the enzyme lactase catalyzes? ____________________________

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6. What is lactose-free milk? ___________________________________________________

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7. Why is lactose-free milk produced? ____________________________________________
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8. What is the source of the lactase used in the production of lactose-free milk?
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9. Describe the process by which lactose-free milk is produced using immobilized enzymes.
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10. Outline the advantages of lactose-free milk (min. 3).

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