Elucidating the mechanism behind the laccase-mediated modification of poly(ethersulfone).

Laccase-mediated oligomerisation of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HBA) derivatives and simultaneous surface modification has proven to be a cost-effective, easily applicable and eco-friendly strategy for preventing biofouling of poly(ethersulfone) (PES) water filtration membranes. Modification of the membrane surface has previously been hypothesised to occur through covalent bonding of enzymatically generated phenolic radicals to the polymeric membrane. The current study shows, however, that formation of soluble phenolic oligomers does not result in covalent membrane modification.