Reaction kinetics for laccase-catalyzed polymerization of 1-naphthol

Laccase-catalyzed oxidative polymerization of 1-naphthol was carried out in a closed system containing acetone and sodium acetate buffer. The effects of initial 1-naphthol and dissolved oxygen concentrations on the initial reaction rate were investigated. A multiplicative mathematical model, using a function of 1-naphthol and dissolved oxygen concentrations, was developed for enzymatic polymerization and the corresponding biokinetic parameters have been evaluated for the first time. The activation energy and reaction rate constant of the laccase-catalyzed 1-naphthol polymerization were calculated as 57 kJ/mol and 311 l/s, respectively. The activation energy calculated was in the typical range of 30–60 kJ/mol and rate constant was of the order of magnitude of previously reported values for laccase-catalyzed reactions with different monomers.