Immobilized Horseradish Peroxidase (I-HRP) as Biocatalyst for Oxidative Polymerization of 2,6-Dimethylphenol

An enzyme, horseradish peroxidase (HRP), was immobilized on silica nanorods and employed as a catalyst for the oxidative polymerization of 2,6-dimethylphenol. With this catalytic system, the polymer, poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide), was successfully obtained from a water acetone solvent system. The immobilized HRP exhibited substantially enhanced enzymatic activity toward oxidative polymerization as well as some degree of reusability compared with free HRP.