PHOTOINITIATED GRAFT-COPOLYMERIZATION OF GLYCIDYL METHACRYLATE AND 2-HYDROXYETHYL METHACRYLATE ONTO POLYACRYLONITRILE AND APPLICATION OF THE SYNTHESIZED GRAFT-COPOLYMERS IN PENICILLIN-AMIDASE IMMOBILIZATION

The photoinitiated graft copolymerization of hydroxyethyl methacrylate and/or glycidyl methacrylate onto polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and the applicability of the matrices synthesized in this way for penicillin-amidase immobilization are discussed. The copolymers are prepared by putting irradiated PAN fibers with preliminary adsorbed benzophenone on them into the polymerization feed that includes hydroxyethyl methacrylate and/or glycidyl methacrylate dissolved in a water-methyl ethyl ketone mixture. The degree of grafting varies between 11.7 and 46.0%, and its efficiency, between 27.8 and 78.9%. The concentration of epoxy groups in the synthesized copolymers is in the range between 210 and 2220 mumol/g. The reactivity ratios of the two comonomers are determined to be r(GM) = 0.70 +/- 0.15 and r(HEMA) = 2.73 +/- 0.14. The grafted copolymers containing HEMA units provide milder conditions for penicillin-amidase covalent binding. The optimum pH and temperature values of penicillin-amidase immobilized on these matrices are 7.5 and 45-degrees-C, respectively. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.