title: Production of a robust nanobiocatalyst for municipal wastewater treatment.
abstract: Immobilization is a fundamental method to improve both enzyme activity and stability. In the present work, the process previously described for immobilizing laccase - an enzyme oxidizing phenolic compounds - onto fumed silica was optimized, in order to efficiently produce industrially relevant amounts of a nanobiocatalyst for biological micropollutant elimination, whilst saving 80% of surface modification agent (3-aminopropyl triethoxy silane) and 90% of cross-linker (glutaraldehyde). Minimized losses during preparation and favorable effects of immobilization yielded conjugates with drastically increased enzymatic activity (164% of invested activity). Long-term stability and activity regarding bisphenol A (2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane) removal of the synthesized biocatalyst were assessed under application-relevant conditions. With 81.1±0.4% residual activity after 7 days, stability of conjugates was drastically higher than of free laccase, which showed virtually no activity after 1.5 days. These results illustrate the huge potential of fumed silica nanoparticles/laccase-composites for innovative biological wastewater treatment.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Ecopreneurship, School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, Muttenz, Switzerland. gregor.hommes@fhnw.ch
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hommes
authors.forename: Christoph A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gasser
authors.forename: Chaim B C
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Howald
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goers
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schlosser
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shahgaldian
authors.forename: Philippe F-X
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Corvini
mesh_terms: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D055162:Biocatalysis / Q000187:drug effects; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002947:Cities; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000494:pharmacology; D057075:Enzyme Assays; D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized / Q000378:metabolism; D005976:Glutaral / Q000494:pharmacology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration / Q000187:drug effects; D042845:Laccase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010636:Phenols / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011437:Propylamines; D012821:Silanes / Q000494:pharmacology; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized; D005976:Glutaral; D042845:Laccase; D010636:Phenols; D011437:Propylamines; D012821:Silanes; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; C477625:amino-propyl-triethoxysilane; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds