Electrospun microfibrous poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride)/poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) mats tailored for enzymatic remediation of waters polluted by endocrine disruptors

Novel bicomponent microfibrous mats containing targeted amount of reactive maleic anhydride groups were prepared by electrospinning of mixed solutions of poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) and poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride). Then, amino-functionalized P(St-alt-MA)/P(St-co-MA) mats were obtained by reaction with p-phenylenediamine. ATR-FTIR and XPS spectroscopy were used to characterize pristine and modified P(St-alt-MA)/P(St-co-MA) mats. On the next step, laccase from Trametes versicolor was covalently attached onto the modified mats; the average amount of immobilized enzyme was 40 ± 0.7 mg/g mat. The catalytic activity of the immobilized enzyme was studied in respect to bisphenol A (BPA) endocrine disruptor. The optimum activity of the immobilized enzyme was reached at maximum flow rate of 1.3 mL/s. After 90 min the BPA concentration was reduced by 60% and the catalytic activity of microfibrous mats remained stable for about 30 successive reuses. In addition, the relative activity of laccase immobilized on the microfibrous mats was displayed in a broader pH range as compared to that of the free one.