Enzymes are used in industry in an immobilised form, fixed to an inert support, mainly because
- A. immobilised enzymes work at a much lower temperature
- B. immobilisation changes their specificity
- C. the enzyme can be recovered and reused and does not contaminate the product
- D. immobilised enzymes need no substrate
Explanation
Fixing the enzyme to beads or a membrane lets the product flow past and be collected pure, while the expensive enzyme stays behind for the next batch, and immobilised enzymes also tolerate heat and pH changes better. Lactose free milk is produced this way, by passing milk over immobilised lactase. The specificity of the enzyme is unchanged by immobilisation.
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