In order to prepare 3D skeletal polymer with low cross-linking density and high hydrophilicity bisphenol A epoxy was cured with diethylenetriamine in the PEG1000/PEG2000 mixing medium. The reaction-induced phase separation of this system was controlled by changing the weight ratio of PEG1000 and PEG2000. The morphology observation of the resulted polymers showed that the connectivity of epoxy phase strongly depended on the content of PEG2000 and was also influenced by the curing temperature. A 3D skeletal polymer with well-controlled macro-through-pores was prepared by using a mixture of PEG1000 and PEG2000 in 7/1 weight ratio as reaction medium and porogen. A unique light-filtrating effect was found in the prepared 3D skeletal polymer that filled with high refractive liquids. The effect most likely resulted from a total reflection mechanism of light in 3D macro-through-pores.

•ZnO nanowires/SiO2 composites were used as a microwave absorbing support to immobilize lipase.•The support is easily to be recovered by calcination.•The microwave absorbing properties of ZnO nanowires were proved to be helpful for the synergistic effect.•The immobilized lipase exhibited relatively high thermal stability and activity under MW.•The immobilized lipase was used to catalyze synthesis of phytosterol esters under MW.ZnO nanowires/macroporous SiO2 composites were used as a new type of microwave absorbing support to immobilize Candida rugosa lipase (CRL). Under microwave irradiation the immobilized lipase was used to catalyze esterification of phytosterol and oleic acid for the synthesis of phytosterol esters. A great improvement of the catalytic activity was found in the systems in which composited ZnO nanowires were present. The microwave absorbing properties of ZnO nanowires have been proved to be helpful for the synergistic effect between microwave irradiation and enzyme catalysis. The immobilized CRL showed higher thermal stability at 55 °C under microwave irradiation than conventional heating. A maximum molar conversion of 95.4% under microwave irradiation was achieved under the optimal condition: 0.1 M phytosterol, 0.2 M oleic acid, water activity (aw) of 0.11, reaction temperature at 50 °C and reaction time of 1 h.Download full-size image

•ZnO nanowires were introduced into the pores of macroporous SiO2.•The obtained supports exhibited higher adsorption stability and can be recycled easily.•The loading amount of the supports was approximate to that of a mesoporous material.•A maximum molar conversion of 49.1% was achieved with eep of 99%.•The immobilized lipase exhibited relatively good reusability.ZnO nanowires were successfully introduced into a macroporous SiO2 by in situ hydrothermal growth in 3D pores. The obtained composites were characterized by SEM and XRD, and used as supports to immobilize Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) through adsorption. The high specific surface area (233 m2/g) and strong electrostatic interaction resulted that the average loading amount of the composite supports (196.8 mg/g) was 3–4 times of that of macroporous SiO2 and approximate to that of a silica-based mesoporous material. Both adsorption capacity and the activity of the CALB immobilized on the composite supports almost kept unchanged as the samples were soaked in buffer solution for 48 h. The chiral resolution of 2-octanol was catalyzed by immobilized CALB. A maximum molar conversion of 49.1% was achieved with 99% enantiomeric excess of (R)-2-octanol acetate under the optimal condition: a reaction using 1.0 mol/L (R,S)-2-octanol, 2.0 mol/L vinyl acetate and 4.0 wt.% water content at 60 °C for 8 h. After fifteen recycles the immobilized lipase could retain 96.9% of relative activity and 93.8% of relative enantioselectivity.Download full-size image