Trametes versicolor (TV) cells were embedded in ceramic matrices (TV Biocers) through sol–gel method using tetraethyl orthosilicate as a silica precursor. The characterization of the free silica and TV Biocers was carried out by using scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer, nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurement and catalytic activity assay. The performance of the TV Biocers as biocatalysts was evaluated using methylene blue (MB) and malachite green (MG) dyes as model emerging organic micropollutants. It was observed that the dye removal performance η (mmol g−1) of the TV Biocers for MB and MG, respectively, was 7.400 and 5.569 mmol g−1 which was 18 and 128 % higher than the TV Biocers calculated values obtained from the free silica and free TV cells. These results demonstrated that the TV Biocers can offer better dye removal performance through a combination of adsorption and degradation processes. This is the first reported study on the immobilization of the TV cells in silica matrices, and further study is underway to improve their properties toward its applications for removal of emerging organic micropollutants. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.
