Use of plant material for the decontamination of water polluted with phenols

Journal Article · Sat Nov 05 00:00:00 EST 1994 · Biotechnology and Bioengineering; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.260440915· OSTI ID:6790680

Dec, J; Bollag, J M ^[1]

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1. Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)

Plant materials were found useful in the decontamination of water polluted with phenolic compounds. The detoxification effect was due to peroxidases contained in the plant tissue. The enzymes mediated oxidative coupling of the pollutants, followed by precipitation of the formed polymers from the aqueous phase. An industrial wastewater contaminated with 2,4-dichlorophenol (up to 850 ppm) and other chlorinated phenols was successfully treated using minced horseradish, potato, or white radish (amended with H[sub 2]O[sub 2]). Horseradish-mediated removal of 2,4-dichlorophenol from model solutions was comparable with that achieved using purified horseradish peroxidase. In addition, horseradish could be reused up to 30 times. Due to the apparent ease of application, the use of plant material may present a breakthrough in the enzyme treatment of contaminated water.

• OSTI ID: 6790680
• Journal Information: Biotechnology and Bioengineering; (United States), Vol. 44:9; ISSN 0006-3592
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
PEROXIDASES
ENZYME ACTIVITY
PHENOLS
BIODEGRADATION
WASTE WATER
DECONTAMINATION
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
REMEDIAL ACTION
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
AROMATICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLEANING
DECOMPOSITION
ENZYMES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LIQUID WASTES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROTEINS
WASTES
WATER
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)