Characterization of the laccase-mediated oligomerization of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid

Modifying inert poly(ethersulfone) membranes using laccase has proven to be an environmentally benign and easily applicable process to alter the membrane's surface properties. By this method phenolic acid monomers such as 4-hydroxybenzoic acid are grafted from the membrane surface to make it anti-fouling. In order to enhance the anti-fouling capabilities even further it is important to study the molecular details of this reaction. However, the nature of the products of laccase modification, either on a surface or in solution, has been studied only poorly. In this paper we report the formation of C3–C3′, C3–O and C1–C3′ linked dimers as the first products of the solution-phase laccase-mediat…