Biodegradation of phenols by laccase immobilised in a membrane reactor

The results of a study of immobilisation of a commercial laccase onto a spiral-wound asymmetric polyethersulphone membrane are described. The immobilised enzyme system displayed a promising half-life of more than 150 h for oxidation of syringaldazine. The laccase membrane reactor was applied to the biodegradation of a model phenol solution containing 18 phenolic substrates, including chlorophenols, cresols and methoxyphenols. It has been confirmed that the type and/or the position of substituent group affect the level of substrate oxidation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.