Preparation of Zinc Tungstate (ZnWO₄) Particles by Solvo-hydrothermal Technique and their Application as Support for Inulinase Immobilization

ZnWO₄ particles were synthesized as a single-phase by a simple and easy solvo-hydrothermal technique using water-ethylene glycol mixture as solvent, without using surfactant. Physical properties of produced particles were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), surface area (BET), particles size distribution and atomic force microscopy (AFM). This material was used as support for inulinase immobilization by physical adsorption and the influence of temperature (30 and 50 ºC) was evaluated. Material with mesoporous characteristic and with a surface area of 35.5 m².g^-1 was obtained. According to the findings, ZnWO₄ present a satisfactory inulinase adsorption, and the better result was 605 U.g^-1 support at 30 ºC. Therefore, ZnWO₄ particles prepared by one-step solvo/hydrothermal route provide a new potential support for inulinase immobilization.

Keywords
ZnWO₄; synthesis; characterization; inulinase; immobilization