Adsorption of Trichoderma reesei cellulase on cellulose: experimental data and their analysis by different equations

The adsorption of cellulase from Trichoderma reesei MCG 77 on Avicel was measured at varying cellulase (2-8 g/L) and Avicel (10-200 g/L) concentrations at pH 4.8 and 50 degrees C. Different mathematical equations were derived for the evaluation of the experimental data. The fraction of cellulase protein that can maximally be adsorbed is 0.96, and 1 g Avicel can bind maximally 0.092 g cellulase protein. The Michaelis constant for the adsorption equilibrium [cellulase] + [Avicel] right harpoon over left harpoon [cellulase Avicel] complex is between 2.0 and 2.3 . 10(-5) mol/L. This value is based on the assumption that cellulase has an average molecular weight of 48.000. The apparent molecular weight of Avicel, i.e., that amount in grams that can bind 1 mol cellulase, is 520,000. Under maximum binding the enzyme covers on Avicel a surface of 42 m(2)/g, and the occupied volume is 0.186 cm(3)/g Avicel.