A hierarchical catalyst composition comprising a continuous or particulate macroporous scaffold in which is incorporated mesoporous aggregates of magnetic nanoparticles, wherein an enzyme is embedded in mesopores of the mesoporous aggregates of magnetic nanoparticles. Methods for synthesizing the hierarchical catalyst composition are also described. Also described are processes that use the recoverable hierarchical catalyst composition for depolymerizing lignin, remediation of water contaminated with aromatic substances, polymerizing monomers by a free-radical mechanism, epoxidation of alkenes, halogenation of phenols, inhibiting growth and function of microorganisms in a solution, and carbon dioxide conversion to methanol. Further described are methods for increasing the space time yield and/or total turnover number of a liquid-phase chemical reaction that includes magnetic particles to facilitate the chemical reaction, the method comprising subjecting the chemical reaction to a plurality of magnetic fields of selected magnetic strength, relative position in the chemical reaction, and relative motion.

Disclosed is a polymer having a chemical formula: ##STR00001##
wherein x is 10%90%, y is 10% to 90%, and x+y=100%; R.sup.1 is H, CH.sub.3, CH.sub.2CH.sub.3, OCH.sub.3, O(CH.sub.2).sub.nCH.sub.3, wherein n=112, NH.sub.2, N(CH.sub.3).sub.2, N(CH.sub.2).sub.nCH.sub.3, wherein n=112, Br, Cl, OH, SO.sub.3Na, SO3H, or SO.sub.2Cl; R.sup.2 is H, COOH, COOCH.sub.3, COO(CH2).sub.nCH.sub.3, wherein n=112, SO.sub.3Na, SO.sub.3H, SO.sub.2Cl, OH, CONH.sub.2, CON(CH.sub.3).sub.2, CON(CH.sub.2).sub.n(CH.sub.3).sub.2, wherein n=112, Br, or Cl; and R.sup.3 is SO.sub.3Na, SO.sub.3H, PO.sub.3H, SO.sub.2Cl. OH, H, COOH, COOCH.sub.3, COO(CH.sub.2)nCH.sub.3, wherein n=112, CONH.sub.2, CON(CH.sub.3).sub.2, CON(CH.sub.2).sub.n(CH.sub.3).sub.2, wherein n=112, Br, or Cl.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide: an aqueous binder having high adhesiveness, that in particular does not exhibit oxidative degradation in an electrode environment, and having little environmental load; and an electrode and a battery that use same. Disclosed is a battery electrode binder containing: (A) a constituent unit derived from a monomer having a hydroxyl group; and (B) a constituent unit derived from a polyfunctional (meth)acrylate having no more than 5 functions. An electrode is prepared using this binder and is used in a battery such as a lithium-ion secondary battery.