Laccase immobilized onto poly(GMA-MAA) microspheres for p-benzenediol removal from wastewater

Enzymes have already been extensively applied to degrade various organic pollutants in industrial wastewater, and how to improve the stability and reusability of the enzymes is critical to their practical application. In this study, poly(glycidyl methacrylate-methacrylic acid), poly(GMA-MAA), microspheres were prepared by suspension polymerization, and were used as a new support to immobilize Trametes versicolor laccase. The maximum loading capacity to immobilize enzyme reached as high as 44.78 mg protein/g support. The stability and reusability of laccase were greatly improved after immobilization on the microspheres. While the immobilized laccase was used as catalyst to remove p-benzenediol from wastewater, the removal efficiency reached 88.5%.