Abstract: The oxidation of o-aminophenol catalyzed by Rhus Laccase(R. L.) solubilized in AOT/n-octane/H₂O reverse micellar solution was studied. The optimal conditions observed for R. L. in reverse micelles are T=40℃, pH=7. 6 and R =[H₂O]/[AOT]≈18. It was found that in reverse micelles at 30℃ for 15h in R=6. 2, the residual activity of R. L. re mains as high as 82%, and a little inhibition occurs when 1. 0×10^-3mol/L Zn²⁺, Fe³⁺,Mg²⁺ exist in water pools. o-Aminophenol was oxidized by R. L. in reverse micelles and aqueous solution respectively,and it indicated that both of the main oxidation products are 2 amino-3-phenoxazinone. However, the yield of the oxidation product in the reverse micelles is 1.5 times as much as that in the aqueous solution.

Key words: Reverse micelles, Rhus laccase, Oxidation performance