Development of synergistic boosting hydrolytic hybrid catalyst: cross-linked lipases in rice husk-derived mesoporous...

The growing concern about waste biomass from agricultural activities and the increasing demand for sustainable biomass sources and eco-friendly green catalysts drive the development of innovative catalytic solutions. In this context, rice husk-derived mesoporous silica (RH-MS) is identified for the first time as an intrinsic hydrolytic catalyst. This study presents a novel hydrolytic hybrid catalyst by employing RH-MS to immobilize lipase (LP) using a "ship-in-a-bottle" approach, where the enzyme is cross-linked within the mesoporous silica matrix. This innovative method not only prevents enzyme leakage and denaturation but also results in a synergistic boost in hydrolytic performance-a phenomenon previously unreported in mesoporous silica carriers. The cross-linked LP in RH-MS exhibited a 377 % increase in specific activity, along with exceptional pH and thermal stability, long-term storage stability, and reusability, retaining catalytic activity after 10 cycles and 81 storage days. These findings highlight the transformative potential of RH-MS as a support for enzyme immobilization, opening new opportunities for industrial applications, particularly in hydrolysis-driven processes, where robust and reusable catalysts are in high demand.