Cyclic-carbonate functionalized polymer brushes on polymeric microspheres: Immobilized laccase for degradation of endocrine disturbing compounds

A novel support material containing cyclic carbonate group for facile enzyme immobilization was synthesized from [poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene)-graft-poly(glycidyl methacrylate)] “[PS-co-DVB-g-P(GMA)]” microsphere under carbon dioxide atmosphere. It was named as (poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene)-graft-poly(cyclic-carbonate methacrylate)] “[PS-co-DVB-g-P(CCMA)]” microsphere. Laccase was covalently immobilized using the microspheres carrying cyclic epoxy and cyclic carbonate groups. The amount of enzyme loading on the cyclic carbonate groups of the microspheres was 47.8 mg/g. The immobilized enzyme was used for degradation of Bisphenol A, and Congo Red dye in packed bed reactor. The immobilized laccase preserved its initial activity about 67.5% and 93.0% for degradation of Bisphenol A and Conge Red, respectively.