Removal of urea from water using urease-immobilized fibers

Dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA was graft-polymerized at a density of 1.7 mmol/g onto a 6-nylon fiberby radiation-induced graft polymerization. Urease was bound to the resultant anion-exchange fiberby electrostatic interaction. After crosslinking with transglutaminase, 80% of the bound urease was immobilized at a density of 41 mg/g of the fiber. Urea in water was quantitatively hydrolyzed during the permeation of a 0.20 mg/L urea solution through the urease-immobilized-fiber-packed bed with a diameter of 5.5 mm and a height of 27 mm in the residence time range of 12-180 s. The activity of immobilized urease did not deteriorate after repeated use of the fiber, i.e., during reaction and storage.