TITLE:
Enzymatic Removal of Phenol from Industrial Wastewaters
AUTHORS:
Artun Sukan, Sayit Sargin
KEYWORDS:
Industrial Wastewater; Phenol; Laccase; Immobilization; RSM
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biomaterials and Nanobiotechnology,
Vol.4 No.3,
July
30,
2013
ABSTRACT:
Phenol, as a pure substance, is used
in many fields due to its disinfectant, germicidal, local anaesthetic and peptizing
properties. Aqueous solutions of phenol are produced as a waste of these
industries and are discharged into the environment. Therefore, elevated
concentrations of phenol may be found in air or water due to industrial
discharge or use of phenolic products. The aim of this study was to evaluate
the phenol removal capability of enzymes from low-phenol-content (up to 5%) industrial
wastewaters and to optimize the reaction conditions. For this purpose, two
different enzymes
namely, Laccase and Peroxidase were investigated with respect to their phenol
removal capacities. The enzymatic reaction conditions were optimized using Response Surface
Methodology (RSM). As a result 78% phenol removal was achieved with laccase using
a model wastewater. In the studies where the enzyme was immobilized, a 50%
removal was achieved indicating that further optimization was needed in this
area.