2021
Development of Magnetic Nano biocatalyst for Economic Biorefinery of Soybean Products
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Contributor/Checkoff:
North Dakota Soybean Council
Category:
Industrial
Keywords:
(none assigned)
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Ademola Hammed, North Dakota State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
QSSB
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
North Dakota Soybean Council
$30,340
Institution Funded:
North Dakota State University
$30,340
Brief Project Summary:

Soybeans contain biomolecules that could be used for food, health, and chemical synthesis applications. But some alternative applications are not possible because of high soybean processing temperatures. Enzyme-based processing is an alternative to conventional processing because of the low temperature; however, the high cost of enzymes makes this process prohibitive. An enzyme-based process could become economical if enzymes are recycled. Researchers have developed attached enzymes on magnetic nanoparticles for biomass hydrolysis, which could be used to reduce costs. The project aims to attach different enzyme types on magnetic nanoparticles to catalyze soybean bioprocessing.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, scientists, engineers

Information And Results
Project Deliverables

Information on enzyme recoverability during soybeans bioprocessing.
Knowledge of enzyme consortiums required to improve soybean bioprocessing.
Information of functional properties of soybean phytochemicals extracted using attached enzyme.
Information about potential new use of soybean products.

Final Project Results

Update:

View uploaded report Word file

Why the research is important to ND soybean farmers
Soybean is high in protein and starch that are; respectively, consist of peptide and glucose as their building block. Although, smaller units like glucose and peptides are fermentable to value added biochemicals like ethanol, ammonia, and lactic acid, the protein and starch need to be broken down first. One of the most viable way to breakdown protein and starch is using enzyme. However, the high cost of enzyme is an economic challenge for the industries. Enzymatic processing can be economical if enzymes are recovered and reused. The development of economic technology to convert soybean to fermentable units will open up new uses and demand for soybeans which will in turn increase farmer income.

Research conducted
The major aim of this research is to produce attached enzymes on magnetic nanoparticles and/or polymer support for processing soybean products including dehulled, fat flake, defatted flake, and soy meal. Similar to what happens in our body during food digestion, soybean starch was broken down into simple glucose by two enzymes including amylase (AMY) and amyloglucosidase (AMG) while soybean protein was broken down to peptide and amino acid by enzyme pepsin. Tow addition modes: stepwise (one after the other) and simultaneous were investigated. The enzymes were then attached to flexible polymer which were then attached to magnetic nanoparticles to make non-magnetic and magnetic nanobiocatalysts.

Final findings of the research
Soybean samples were broken down differently and simultaneous AMG and AMY addition yielded more glucose in all samples, except in defatted flakes. Processing was optimum at 3h for all samples. Attaching flexible support to enzyme provided a joint enzyme action making the attached enzymes performed higher when compared to unattached enzymes. However, AMY-AMG magnetic unit performed lower than free enzyme. Similarly, the samples were broken down protein digesting enzyme called pepsin. Results show that pepsin free enzymes have higher amino acid contents in all samples except in dehulled sample than attached pepsin.

Benefits/Recommendations to North Dakota soybean farmers and industry
The non-magnetic nanobiocatalysts of AMG and AMY are viable for soybean processing to produce fermentable units to ethanol and organic ammonia. Future research work will focus on recoverability of the nanobiocatalysts and production of organic ammonia and ethanol using soybean hydrolysates as sole substrate during fermentation.

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.