Abstract

Optimization of thermal processes relies on adequate degradation kinetic models to warrant food safety and quality. The knowledge on thermal inactivation of enzymes is necessary to allow their proper utilization in food industry and technology applications, enabling the reduction of heating times and optimization of heating temperatures. In this work, the kinetic of thermal inactivation was studied for the previously characterized carboxylmethylcellulases Ab-CX1 and Ab-CX2 from Macrotermes subhyalinus little soldier. Samples of carboxymethylcellulases were treated at different time-temperature combinations in the range of 5-60 min at 50-65°C and the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for carboxymethylcellulases were calculated. Results showed that inactivation followed a first-order reaction with k-values between 0.0103 ± 0.0003 to 0.1217 ± 0.0005 and 0.0149 ± 0.0007 to 0.0416 ± 0.0003 min^-1 for Ab-CX1 and Ab-CX2, respectively. At high temperatures, Ab-CX2 was less resistant, with a significant decrease in residual activity compared to Ab-CX1. The D- and k-values decreased and increased, respectively, with increasing temperature, indicating faster inactivation of carboxymethylcellulases. Activation energy (Ea) and Z-values were estimated to 76.74 ± 1.98 kJ.mol^-1 and 24.21 ± 1.92 °C for Ab-CX1, 62.80 ± 2.05 kJ.mol^-1 and 33.33 ± 2.78 °C for Ab-CX2. Thermodynamic parameters (ΔH^#, ΔS^# and ΔG^#) were also calculated. The high value obtained for the variation in enthalpy of activation indicates that a high amount of energy is required to initiate denaturation, probably due to the molecular conformation of carboxymethylcellulases. All results suggest that both carboxymethylcellulases are relatively resistant to long heat treatments up to 50°C.

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