A Simple and Efficient Method for Removal of Phenolic Contaminants in Wastewater Using Covalent Immobilized Horseradish Peroxidase

In the light of the increasing burden of pollutants in major rivers and stringent environmental legislation, adaptation to eco-friendly treatment approaches is desperately required to decontaminate industrial effluents before its discharge to rivers and other fresh water-bodies. In present study, we have designed a simple and efficient method for removal of phenols from effluent wastewater using an immobilized preparation of HRP (horseradish peroxidase). The enzyme was isolated in bulk amount from the roots of the Armoracia rusticana and covalently immobilized to polycarbonate supports using a photolabile linker FNAB (1-fluoro-2-notro-4-azidobenzene). The immobilized enzyme showed enhanced storage stability and reusability. The immobilized HRP was subsequently used for degradation of phenols in sewage and spiked wastewater. The phenol content of spiked wastewater was reduced to 93% in the 3 L reactor following treatment with immobilized HRP and H2O2. The improvement in the quality of water upon treatment was reflected by the changes in pH, conductivity, TDS (total dissolved salts) and biodegradation of organic contents as indicated by 77% and 87% reduction in COD (chemical oxygen demand) and BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) respectively in the analyzed sample.