Investigating the affects of immobilised lactase on lactose
The aim of this investigation is to analyse the affect immobilising lactase will have on lactose.
The equipment needed to carry out the experiment includes:
Large syringe, rubber tubing and screw clamp
Plastic gloves apron and safety glasses (important when dealing with glass wool and calcium chloride, gloves are needed as both are irritant)
Clamp stand, clamp and bosses
Glass beakers - 1 x 500cm3, 3 x 250cm3
Filter funnel
Glass wool
Balance
Sodium Alginate
Distilled water
Calcium Chloride solution
Hot water bath
Test tube rack, boiling tubes
Lactase enzyme, Benedict’s reagent
Milk
Sieve
Method:
Firstly weigh 4g of sodium alginate, dissolve this into 100cm3 of distilled water in a beaker, and stir thoroughly. Mix 2cm3 of lactase into 8cm3 of cooled sodium alginate solution in a test tube. Using a stirring rod release droplets of the alginate-enzyme mixture into 1.5% calcium chloride solution, one drop at a time. Using a sieve separate the beads from the calcium chloride. Rinse the beads with distilled water. Push a small amount of glass wool into the barrel of the syringe. Using a spatula pack the syringe with the beads. Pour the milk into the syringe until all the beads are engulfed by it. Collect 1cm3 of milk from the tube at the end of the syringe every five minutes. Add 1cm3 of Benedict’s reagent to the milk and heat in the hot water bath for about 5 minutes. Repeat the experiment every 5 minutes until concordant results are achieved (this should take about 6 or 7 tests)