Abstract:

Encouraging young people’s interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) is crucial for building a skilled workforce and driving innovation. Collaborative efforts between universities and high schools play a pivotal role in nurturing STEM talent. Strategies include joint projects, mentorship, dual enrolment programs, and community engagement. Thus, the next generation of STEM professionals can be inspired by integrating theoretical approaches, practical experiences, and mentorship.

This work describes a laboratory project proposal to introduce high school students to the theory and practice of applied biocatalysis. This initiative has been put into practice within the STEMbach program of the Xunta de Galicia, in which the University of Vigo participates, in collaboration with high schools in the region. Likewise, the adaptation of the project for its implementation at the university educational level is addressed, specifically in the Degree in Industrial Chemistry Engineering.

Enzymes are essential in diverse industrial contexts, where they boost efficiency, minimize waste, and elevate product quality. Sectors like food and beverage production, textiles, detergents, and biofuel manufacturing heavily depend on these natural catalysts. Enzymes streamline chemical processes, rendering them both sustainable and efficient, mainly due to their exceptional specificity. However, their cost remains a major drawback for their extensive industrial application. Enzyme immobilization is proposed as a suitable strategy to enhance enzyme stability, enable reusability, and ensure continuous operation. As a result, the frequent need for enzyme replacement diminishes, leading to cost savings and greater economic viability in industrial processes.

The proposed teaching project focuses on the immobilization of the enzyme invertase by entrapment in calcium alginate spheres. A theoretical introduction and bibliographic survey is carried out, concerning the properties of invertase, its applications and the methods used to measure its activity. Likewise, the methods for immobilization of biocatalysts, their advantages and disadvantages, are studied. The experimental part of the project includes the immobilization of the enzyme, using various operating conditions, and its application for a hydrolysis reaction, evaluating the possibility of reuse. Additional experiments are performed, focusing on the leakage of the biocatalyst from the support.

The project’s complexity can be increased for application in undergraduate chemical engineering studies. For this, the scope can be expanded, including in-depth research on the properties and kinetics of the immobilized enzyme, along with strategies to minimize enzyme leakage. Additionally, designing an industrial-scale process for the catalyst production can be proposed. In all cases students will be engaged through collaborative teaching methodologies, fostering teamwork, problem-solving, and peer learning, thus creating an interactive and dynamic educational experience that enhances understanding and practical skills.

Keywords:

STEM vocation, chemical engineering, applied biocatalysis, lab project, enzyme immobilization.