Laccase Immobilization on Biopolymer Carriers – Preliminary Studies

This preliminary studies concerns preparation of biopolymer carriers for immobilization of laccase from Trametes versicolor, based on sodium alginate, chitosan and on a combined alginate-chitosan biopolymers as well as the evaluation of their potential use in the decolourization process. The study is related to the assessment the using of various carriers in the immobilization methods of laccase. The dropping method using sodium alginate (2%) proved to be the most effective technique of enzyme immobilization. The study showed an improvement in the stability of immobilized laccases under the conditions of variable pH, relative to a free laccase. A loss in the stability of enzymes in alginate beads occurs at high temperatures, together with enzyme leaching and degradation. Enzyme leaching from the beads inhibits their preliminary low-temperature drying. Immobilization and drying of obtained capsules constitutes a promising method for improving enzyme stability. The results obtained as part of this study offer a valuable contribution to the future research on the possibility of using the prepared alginate beads to remove colour contamination from wastewater