ONLINE ENZYME-ACTIVITY DETERMINATION USING THE STOPPED-FLOW TECHNIQUE- APPLICATION TO LACCASE ACTIVITY IN PULP-MILL WASTE-WATER TREATMENT

An automated system for on-line measurement of enzyme activity is prop osed. The system uses a flow injection manifold in the stopped-flow mo de to measure initial reaction rates. The time during which the flow i s halted is selected in such a way as to optimise the enzyme;substrate ratio for the correct determination of activity values. The proposed system was used to determine the activity of laccase produced by the f ungus Trametes versicolor immobilised on nylon in a fixed-bed reactor used for treating pulp mill waste water.