LAUSR

Abstract The aim of this study is to develop high-performance carrier/support for immobilization of enzyme ( e.g. , laccase). The hypothesis is that electrospun blend nanofiber membrane consisting of polyurethane (PU), amidoxime polyarcylonitrile (AOPAN), and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) would possess the desired morphological, mechanical, and chemical properties for the coordination/chelation of Fe(III) ions and the subsequent immobilization of laccase molecules. To test this hypothesis, the Fe(III)-PU/AOPAN/β-CD nanofiber membrane has been prepared and characterized first; thereafter, the membrane’s performance as laccase immobilization carrier/support has been investigated. The results indicate that the prepared nanofiber membrane can efficiently immobilize laccase, and it also possesses excellent morphological/mechanical properties and regeneration capability. In specific, the membrane’s immobilization amount of laccase reaches a high value of 186.34 mg/g; moreover, the immobilized laccase exhibits reasonably high catalytic activity and significantly improved resistance against the variations of temperature and p H value than the free laccase. Additionally, thermal stability, storage stability, and reusability of the immobilized laccase are substantially improved; and the membrane carrier/support can also be regenerated/reused for several times. Therefore, the developed electrospun PU/AOPAN/β-CD blend nanofiber membrane is a high-performance carrier/support for efficient and reusable immobilization of laccase.