Immobilization of laccase onto porous polyvinyl alcohol/halloysite hybrid beads for dye removal

Laccase was immobilized in polyvinyl alcohol beads containing halloysite nanotubes (PVA/HNTs) to improve the stability and reusability of enzyme. The porous structure of PVA/HNTs beads facilitates the entrapment of enzyme and prevents the leaching of immobilized laccase as well. Halloysite nanotubes act as bridge to connect the adjacent pores, facilitating the electron transfer and enhancing the mechanical properties. PVA/HNTs beads have high laccase immobilization capacity (237.02 mg/g) and activity recovery yield (79.15%), indicating it can be used as potential support for laccase immobilization. Compared with free laccase, the immobilized laccase on hybrid beads exhibits enhanced pH tolerance (even at pH 8.0), good thermal stability (57.5% of the initial activity can be maintained at 75 degrees C), and excellent storage stability (81.17% of enzyme activity could be retained after storage at 4 degrees C for 5 weeks compared with that for free enzyme of 60%). Also, the removal efficiency for reactive blue can reach as high as 93.41% in the presence of redox mediator 2,2-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate), in which adsorption and degradation exist simultaneously. The remarkable pH tolerance, thermal and storage stability, and reuse ability imply potential application of porous PVA/HNTs immobilized enzyme in environmental fields.