Stability and Partition of Modified Cellulase in Water-Benzene, Toluene System

In order to obtain a modified cellulase which can be stable and soluble in both water and organic solvent, such as benzene or toluene, the cellulase was modified with three types of copolymer or polyoxyalkylene and maleic anhydride. These polymers are different in hydrophilicity. Although native cellulase looses its activity upon contact with organic solvents, the modified cellulases increase their stability with increase in the degree of modification. The modification with rather hydrophobic copolymer also showed solubility in the organic solvent phase.