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Synthetic dyes are extensively used in a number of industries, such as textile dyeing. Due to their low biodegradability, they cause serious environmental pollution. Thus, in the present paper a partially-purified acid fungal laccase from the white-rot basidiomycete Coriolopsis gallica was entrapped into calcium alginate beads and applied to the decolorization of different synthetic dyes. Effects of immobilization conditions such as alginate concentration, CaCl₂ concentration and the ratio enzyme/alginate (E/A) on the loading efficiency and immobilization yield were investigated. The optimal conditions for C. gallica laccase immobilization into Ca-alginate beads were 2% (w/v) sodium alginate, 2% (w/v) CaCl₂, and 1:4 E/A (v/v). It was also found that laccase stability to pH and temperature increased after immobilization.

Both the free and immobilized laccase alone showed a high efficiency to decolorize the anthraquinone …