Ricerc@Sapienza

Anthracene bioconversion was achieved by immobilized enzyme technology. An oxidation yield of 0.7?mg/L of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons reached 60% following 24?h of incubation with laccase from Trametes versicolor covalently immobilized on glutaraldehyde-activated chitosan at the optimal pH of 5 in the presence of diammonium 2,2-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) as the radical mediator. High-performance liquid chromatography indicated that the main product of anthracene oxidation was 9,10-anthraquinone which is less toxic than its precursor.

The differences in hydrophilicity are a main drawback for wood polymer composites (WPCs). This work aims at compatibilizing bio-derived poly(lactic acid) (PLA), high density polyethylene (PE) and wood fibers (WFs) with either functional PEs [PE-graft-maleic anhydride (MA) (Polybond 3029) or random copolymer of ethylene and glycidyl methacrylate (PE-g-GMA) (Lotader AX8840)] or trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium bistriflamide ionic liquid (IL). The interactions and possible chemical reactions between PLA and functional PE or IL were studied including their mechanical properties.