Laccase-Catalyzed Removal of Phenol and Benzenediols from Wastewater
Publication: Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste
Volume 15, Issue 1
Abstract
A two-step process for the removal of phenol and benzenediols, namely catechol, resorcinol, and hydroquinone, from buffered synthetic wastewater was investigated. The proposed process comprised laccase catalyzed conversion of these substrates using laccase from Trametes villosa followed by the removal of products generated using alum as coagulant. The effects of pH, laccase concentration, substrate concentration, and the presence of a hydrophilic polymer additive [polyethylene glycol (PEG)] to achieve removal of the substrate in a 3-h reaction period at room temperature were determined. The parent compound, phenol, required the most enzyme, followed by resorcinol, catechol, and hydroquinone. PEG showed no effect on any of the substrate conversions. Substrate conversion and enzyme inactivation were monitored over the reaction period. As phenol and benzenediols might coexist in industrial effluents, enzymatic treatment of an equimolar mixture of these four substrates was examined. Except for hydroquinone, the proposed enzymatic treatment method is a viable alternative means to remove phenol and benzenediols from industrial wastewaters.
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Acknowledgments
The writers gratefully acknowledge the support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the University of Windsor scholarship program for financial support. Novozymes North America, Inc., Franklinton, North Carolina is thanked for their generous gift of the enzyme.
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Published In
Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste
Volume 15 • Issue 1 • January 2011
Pages: 13 - 20
Copyright
© 2011 ASCE.
History
Received: May 6, 2010
Accepted: Jul 23, 2010
Published online: Jul 26, 2010
Published in print: Jan 2011
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