Imprinted polymer/organo-smectite nanocomposites for paraoxon hydrolysis

We have used the imprinting technique to create a polymer/organo-smectite nanocomposite catalyst. The aim was preparing a synthetic enzyme which shows high selectivity for paraoxon hydrolysis. Paraoxon imprinted polymer/organo-smectite composites (PIPO) and non-imprinted polymer/organo-smectite composites (NIPO) were prepared using methacryloylhistidine-Cu2+ (MAH-Cu(II)) and [2-methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethylhexadecylammonium bromide] (MOEDMAC16) modified smectite. These nanocomposites were applied as a catalyst in the hydrolysis of paraoxon which is an organophosphate ester and used as a pesticide. The catalytic activity of these composites was evaluated according to the enzyme kinetics model of Michaelis–Menten. PIPO showed better catalytic activity than NIPO. In addition, the paraoxon imprinted nanocomposite had greater catalytic activity (based on kcat/Km values) for paraoxon hydrolysis by a factor of 391 compared to that of parathion hydrolysis.