Influence of surface properties of carbon fibres on the adsorption of catalase

PAN-based carbon fibres obtained by carbonisation at relatively low temperature and submitted to high-temperature treatment and oxidation in wet conditions provided a range of materials differing according to surface composition and hydrophobicity. The adsorption of catalase by these fibres was studied by XPS and by activity measurements in the liquid and in the adsorbed state. Three typical situations are featured: limited adsorbed amount in the case of low hydrophobicity; significant adsorption and preservation of an appreciable enzyme activity for samples of moderate hydrophobicity; strong adsorption with deactivation of the enzyme in the case of high hydrophobicity.