Detergentless microemulsions as media for enzymatic reactions: Catalytic properties of laccase in the ternary system hexane-2-propanol-water

The catalytic activity and stability of laccase in the detergentless ternary system hexane - 2-propanol - water were studied. In the microemulsion region of the phase diagram the enzyme exhibited the highest catalytic activity and stability, which were comparable to those in aqueous solution. The character of the microenvironment inside microemulsion droplets was studied using nitrate anion as spectral probe and its polarity was found to correspond to that of 75% v/v aqueous 2-propanol. In principle, laccase can be recovered many times from the microemulsion without loss of catalytic activity.