POROUS THIIRANYL POLYMERS - NEWER SUPPORTS FOR IMMOBILIZATION OF PENICILLIN-G ACYLASE

Spherical and macroreticular epithiopropyl methacrylate-ethylene glyco l dimethacrylate (thiiranyl) and glycidyl methacrylate-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (glycidyl) copolymer beads of two differing copolymer compositions were synthesized. Particle size was estimated to be in th e range 250-420 mu m for both sets of copolymers. The anomalous increa se in both surface area and pore volume with crosslinking density refl ects a bimodal distribution of the internal porous structure in both t hese copolymers. These reactive copolymer beads were investigated for the binding and expression of a biocatalyst, penicillin G acylase. The activity of immobilized penicillin G acylase obtained, 191 IU/g compa res well with established industrial immobilized enzymes. (C) 1997 Els evier Science Ltd.