Development of an integrated micro-millisystem for continuous laccase extraction

Efforts to reduce the impact of chemical processes on the environment are leading to a shift to enzymatic alternatives, with laccases standing out for their versatile substrate oxidation capabilities. This study addresses the improvement of biocatalytic reactions by deep eutectic solvents (DES), in particular DES-based aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) for the extraction of biomolecules. Continuous laccase extraction from crude samples was achieved using a DES-based ATPS, which was first optimized in a batch extractor and later intensified in a microextractor. Integration with a milliseparator enabled continuous phase separation, which increased process efficiency. The extracted laccase used as a co-solvent showed superior efficiency in the degradation of aniline dyes. This research not only advances enzyme extraction methods, but also highlights the potential of laccase in sustainable biocatalytic processes, particularly in environmental remediation.