Lipases: Sources, immobilization techniques, and applications

Enzymes serve as natural catalysts that exhibit high specificity to their respective substrates and function effectively under mild temperature, pressure, and pH conditions, resulting in superior conversion rates compared to traditional chemical catalysts. These catalysts, sourced from animals, plants, and microorganisms, offer versatility, with lipases standing out for their broad applicability, capturing the interest of various industries. However, the widespread adoption of soluble lipases is hindered by challenges such as high acquisition costs, limited operational stability, and difficulties in recovery and reuse. To address these limitations, enzymatic immobilization has emerged as a viable alternative, aiming to enhance the stability of soluble enzymes while simplifying their recovery and reuse processes. This approach significantly mitigates the overall cost associated with enzyme-dependent processes. This review examines the diverse sources of enzymes, explores various immobilization methods for lipases, and discusses their wide-ranging applications.