- Laccase is an enzyme that has the ability to decompose synthetic dyes used in the production of clothing and thus could potentially help reduce synthetic dye pollution.
An experiment was performed in which laccase was immobilized in alginate beads to determine the effectiveness of laccase immobilization in decolorizing the dye crystal violet. The graph shows the effect of laccase concentration on relative decolorization activity of the immobilized laccase. Error bars represent ±SD.
(a) Predict the relative decolorization of crystal violet at an laccase concentration of 5 mg ml⁻¹. [1]
(b) Deduce the significance of overlapping error bars in the data for laccase concentrations from 3 mg ml⁻¹ to 4 mg ml⁻¹. [1]
(c) Discuss the variables that need to be controlled in this investigation. [2]
(d) Suggest how the percentage of decolorization could be obtained experimentally. [3]
(e) Distinguish between processes involved in cyclical and linear metabolic pathways. [1]