Enzymatic route for selective glycerol oxidation using covalently immobilized laccases

Glycerol is an important starting material for the synthesis of many chemical compounds and its selective oxidation represents an efficient way to produce value-added compounds. Glyceric acid, one of these selective oxidation products, is an important intermediate in the food, medicine, cosmetics, and light industries. In this work, four commercially available native laccases were screened for glycerol oxidation using different initiators, and the two most efficient biocatalysts were covalently immobilized on functionalized magnetic and polymethacrylate (Lifetech™) solid supports. Apart from the mostly employed Fe3O4 magnetic particles, in this work Ni-Zn or Ni-Zn-Co spinel ferrite (MFe2O4) microparticles were used. Particularly, the utilization (for the first time for laccase immobilization) of Ni-Zn ferrite support Ni0.7Zn0.3Fe2O4 functionalized with 3-aminopropyl-trimethoxysilane, via crosslinking by glutaraldehyde and reduction with NaBH4 led to excellent biocatalytic efficiency and stability. These results confirm the feasibility of Trametes versicolor laccase for covalent bonding, as presumed by computational modelling. The resulted enzymatic preparations were characterized in detail in terms of stability and reusability, demonstrating enhanced storage, pH and thermal stability compared to the native enzymes. The most active biocatalysts (790.93 [U/g]) were successfully used for glycerol oxidation and the specific conversion in glyceric acid exceeded 50%. [Display omitted] •Laccases were covalently attached onto superparamagnetic nanoparticles.•Thermal, operational stability and recyclability of the biocatalysts was demonstrated.•The immobilized laccases evidenced increased selectivity for glyceric acid synthesis.