In this study the immobilization of lipase in matrices produced with gelatin with different Bloom values and with the addition of plastifiers was investigated to evaluate the influence of the Bloom value, as well as the capacity of the plastifiers to maintain the enzyme immobilized and the immobilization yield. The results indicated the need for crosslinking of the matrices with glutaraldehyde due to the high solubility in water, explained by the amino acid profile, which confirms the solubility of gelatin. Mannitol showed greater efficiency in the lipase immobilization, since it led to more porous structures and more uniform pores. These structures were also influenced by the gelatin concentration; greater concentrations associated with intermediate concentrations of plastifier led to matrices with a greater immobilization yield (87.92%). The X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the structure of the immobilization matrices was partially crystalline.

Polymeric materials are increasingly replacing metallic materials as a result of their properties. In this work a composite of phenolic resin and sugar cane pulp was developed. The sugar cane pulp has been previously alkalinised, dried, and milled and the particles had been classified in a range of grain sizes. Experimental assays were performed, varying the proportion of the resin and the reinforcement and the size of the cane pulp fibre, keeping the pressure and moulding temperature constant. These composites were characterised according to physical and chemical properties, through test bodies produced in moulds according to ASTM standards. The experiments performed showed that the use of sugar cane pulp as reinforcement in polymeric composites represents an option for reducing costs in industrial applications, thus suggesting a significant industrial applicability of the product.