IMMOBILIZATION OF MERCURIC REDUCTASE FROM A PSEUDOMONAS-PUTIDA STRAIN ON DIFFERENT ACTIVATED CARRIERS

Mercuric reductase was isolated from Pseudomonas putida KT2442::mer-73 and immobilized on chromatographic carriers activated by various methods. The immobilization methods for covalent coupling were compared with regard to preservation of enzymatic activity and coupling yields. Highest yields were obtained with carriers bearing the most reactive functional groups. Best results were achieved with tresyl chloride-activated carriers. The optimum binding conditions were found at pH 8. Application of the immobilized mercuric reductase for continuous treatment of Hg(II)-containing water was examined in a fixed bed reactor. Space-time yields up to 510 nmol/min.ml were attained. The kinetics of immobilized enzyme systems were not diffusion-controlled