Design and construction of copper-containing organophyllosilicates as laccase-mimicking nanozyme for efficient removal of phenolic pollutants

The design of nanozymes as multifunctional hybrid nanomaterials for modern industrial applications is necessary to meet the demands of emerging technologies and overcome the limitations of natural enzymes. In this study, an aminopropyl-functionalized copper-containing phyllosilicate (ACP) was facilely synthesized as a novel laccase-mimicking nanozyme, which can be used instead of natural laccase in the field of environmental remediation. ACP exhibited greater stability than laccase over broad ranges of pH (3.0-10.0), temperature (30-90 degrees C), and salinity (0-500 mM). Moreover, ACP showed good recyclability, with nearly 50% of the catalytic activity maintained after 13 consecutive cycles. Kinetic experiments revealed that although ACP possessed a considerably lower affinity for the substrate, its specific activity was still 51% that of laccase. Based on the excellent laccase-like activity of ACP, a bioinspired route to remove aqueous hydroquinone (HQ) by catalytic oxidative polymerization was constructed. The results showed that ACP achieved an HQ removal efficiency of approximately 100% within 30 min, which is much higher than that of natural laccase. This rapid, low-cost biomimetic process gives rise to new possibilities for the rational design of biomimetic nanozyme systems.