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Updated: Feb 2, 2026

Inkjet-printed Polyvinyl Alcohol Multilayers
Published on: May 11, 2017
Biodegradation of polyvinyl alcohol using cross-linked enzyme aggregates of degrading enzymes from Bacillus niacini
Hongjie Bian1, Mengfei Cao1, Huan Wen2
1Research Center for Fermentation Engineering of Hebei, College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, 26 Yuxiang Street, Shijiazhang 050000, PR China.
Abstract:
In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-degrading bacteria were screened from sludge samples using PVA as a sole source of carbon. A novel strain was obtained and identified as Bacillus niacini based on the analysis of a partial 16S rDNA nucleotide sequence and morphological characteristics. PVA-degrading enzyme (PVAase) from Bacillus niacini was immobilized as cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) via precipitation with ammonium sulfate followed by glutaraldehyde cross-linking. The effects of precipitation and cross-linking on PVAase-CLEAs activity were investigated and characterized. 70% ammonium sulfate and 1.5% glutaraldehyde were used for precipitation and 1-h cross-linking reaction. The activity recovery of PVAase-CLEAs was approximately 90% starting from free PVAase, suggesting non-purification steps are required for extended use. No significant differences in optimum pH and temperature values of the PVAase were recorded after immobilization. The PVAase-CLEAs showed a ball-like morphology and enhanced PVA degradation efficiency in comparison with the free PVAase in solution. Furthermore, the PVAase-CLEAs exhibited excellent thermal stability, pH stability and storage stability compared to free PVAase. The PVAase-CLEAs retained about 75% of initial PVAase activity after 4 cycles of use. These results suggest that this CLEA is potentially usable for PVA degradation in industrial applications.
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