Enzyme-immobilized hierarchically porous covalent organic framework biocomposite for catalytic degradation of broad-range emerging pollutants in water

Efficient enzyme immobilization is crucial for the successful commercialization of large-scale enzymatic water treatment. However, issues such as lack of high enzyme loading coupled with enzyme leaching present challenges for the widespread adoption of immobilized enzyme systems. The present study describes the development and bioremediation application of an enzyme biocomposite employing a cationic macrocycle-based covalent organic framework (COF) with hierarchical porosity for the immobilization of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The intrinsic hierarchical porous features of the azacalix[4]arene-based COF (ACA-COF) allowed for a maximum HRP loading capacity of 0.76 mg/mg COF with low enzyme leaching (<5.0%). The biocomposite, HRP@ACA-COF, exhibited exceptional thermal stability (~200% higher relative activity than the free enzyme), and maintained ~60% enzyme activity after five cycles. LCMSMS analyses confirmed that the HRP@ACA-COF system was able to achieve >99% degradation of seven diverse types of emerging pollutants (2-mercaptobenzothiazole, paracetamol, caffeic acid, methylparaben, furosemide, sulfamethoxazole, and salicylic acid)in under an hour. The described enzyme-COF system offers promise for efficient wastewater bioremediation applications. With the ever-growing global water demand, the urgent and sustainable treatment of polluted water is of extreme significance. However, it is becoming extremely challenging for water treatment plants to meet minimum standards for water quality, while considering their carbon footprint and environmental impact. Herein we present the excellent capacity of enzyme@COF biocomposite and thereby create a novel class of high-performance biocatalysts with ultrahigh enzyme loading (0.76 mg/mg), excellent catalytic activity against broad-range of pollutants, enhanced operational stability, and reusability. This study opens up a wide window of opportunities for enzyme immobilization and high-performance biocatalysts, particularly suited for water treatment.