The spelling of the word "immobilised enzyme" is quite straightforward when using IPA phonetic transcription. It is pronounced ɪˈməʊbɪlaɪzd ˈɛnzaɪm. The first syllable, "immo," is pronounced with a short "i" sound followed by the "m" and "o" sounds. The second syllable, "bil," is pronounced with a long "i" sound followed by the "l" sound. The final syllables, "ised" and "enzyme," are pronounced with a long "i" sound followed by the "z" sound and then the "m" sound, respectively. Overall, the word is easy to spell when using phonetic transcription.
An immobilized enzyme refers to an enzyme that is firmly attached or confined to a solid support or matrix, thereby effectively restricting its movement and maintaining its stability. Immobilization techniques are employed to enhance the performance and practicality of enzymes in various industries such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and waste management.
Immobilized enzymes are prepared by physically or chemically binding them to a carrier material, which can be organic or inorganic. Organic materials often used for immobilization include agarose, cellulose, alginate, and chitosan, while inorganic materials include silica, alumina, and metal oxides. These carriers create a stable environment for the enzyme, allowing it to retain its activity over an extended period of time.
The advantages of immobilized enzymes lie in their increased stability, reusability, and improved efficiency. Immobilization prevents enzymes from being washed away or degraded during reactions, enables their reuse for multiple cycles, and facilitates easy separation from the reaction mixture once the desired product is obtained. Immobilized enzymes also provide better control over reaction conditions such as temperature, pH, and the concentration of substrates and products.
However, immobilization can cause some limitations such as decreased enzyme activity due to conformational changes, mass transfer limitations, and hindered availability of substrate-binding sites. Nevertheless, the versatility and advantages offered by immobilized enzymes make them indispensable tools in various industrial processes, ultimately leading to improved productivity, cost-effectiveness, and the sustainability of biocatalytic processes.
The etymology of the word "immobilised enzyme" can be broken down as follows:
1. Immobilised: The word "immobilised" is derived from the Latin root "im-" which means "not" or "without", and the Latin word "mobilis" which means "movable" or "able to move". The suffix "-ised" is added to indicate that it has been made or rendered immobile. Therefore, "immobilised" refers to something that has been made incapable of movement.
2. Enzyme: The word "enzyme" is derived from the Greek word "enzume" or "enzumon", which means "in yeast" or "leavened". It is a combination of the Greek prefix "en-" meaning "in" or "within" and the Greek word "zume" meaning "leaven" or "yeast".