0
Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Remediation Sign in to save

Design and Optimization of Laccase Immobilization in Cellulose Acetate Microfiltration Membrane for Micropollutant Remediation

Catalysts 2023 20 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 45 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Béla Varga, Mónika Meiczinger, Miklós Jakab, Viola Somogyi

Summary

Researchers developed a two-step immobilization process for cross-linking laccase enzymes into cellulose acetate microfiltration membranes, achieving stable enzyme activity for degrading pharmaceutical micropollutants in wastewater while simplifying downstream processing compared to conventional enzyme treatment.

Study Type Environmental

The industrial and environmental applications of laccase, especially in wastewater treatment, have gained focus in recent years. Therefore, developing the proper laccase immobilization techniques, which could improve the stability of the enzymes and simplify the required downstream processes, is needed. A novel two-step immobilization process was developed, resulting in cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEA) in the pores of the membrane. Laccase adsorption on a biodegradable cellulose acetate microfiltration membrane along with cross-linking was investigated to maximize the enzyme load and immobilization efficiency. The optimization was done regarding the: pH, temperature, enzyme concentration, adsorption time, cross-linker concentration, and temperature. It was concluded that the highest immobilization efficiency (76%) could be achieved in acidic buffers at 29 °C with high surface activity (1174 U·m−2) at the cost of partial denaturation and membrane fouling. The membrane was successfully utilized for the enzymatic treatment of diclofenac, and 58% removal efficiency was achieved. The results indicated that cellulose acetate is a suitable carrier for adsorption-based immobilization of laccase for the potential for environmental utilisation.

Sign in to start a discussion.

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

Potential of Laccase as a Tool for Biodegradation of Wastewater Micropollutants

This review evaluates the potential of laccase enzymes, primarily from fungi and bacteria, to break down micropollutants in wastewater including pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and endocrine-disrupting compounds. Researchers found that laccase-based treatments offer an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional chemical methods for removing these contaminants. The study also discusses how immobilizing laccases on support materials can improve their stability and reusability in water treatment systems.

Article Tier 2

Developing enzyme immobilization with aluminium-coated and gold-coated membranes

Researchers immobilized cellulase and laccase enzymes onto aluminum-coated and gold-coated polyester membranes to enable simultaneous enzymatic digestion and separation of organic matter from microplastic particles. Only laccase maintained activity after immobilization, and membrane morphology changed significantly, suggesting the approach is promising but requires optimization before routine use.

Article Tier 2

Fabrication and Characterization of Cellulose Acetat / N-Methyl Pyrollidon Membrane for Microplastics Separation in Water

Researchers fabricated cellulose acetate membranes using N-methyl pyrrolidone as solvent via the phase inversion method and examined how immersion time during membrane formation affects the characteristics and microplastic removal performance of the resulting flat sheet microfiltration membranes. The study aims to optimize membrane manufacturing parameters for efficient microplastics separation from water.

Article Tier 2

Eco-Friendly Biocatalysts: Laccase Applications, Innovations, and Future Directions in Environmental Remediation

This review examines how laccase enzymes, naturally produced by fungi and other organisms, can be used as eco-friendly biocatalysts for breaking down environmental pollutants. Researchers highlight advances in enzyme immobilization and nanotechnology that have improved laccase stability and reusability for treating dyes, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and microplastic additives. The study explores hybrid systems that combine laccase with other treatment technologies to achieve more complete pollutant breakdown.

Article Tier 2

Silica immobilized PETase for microplastic bioremediation: Influence of linker peptides on activity

Researchers immobilized a modified PETase enzyme onto silica using different linker peptides and tested its ability to break down PET microplastics, finding that linker peptide design significantly influenced enzyme activity and reusability — key parameters for practical application in wastewater treatment.

Share this paper