Potential applications of oxidative enzymes and phenoloxidase-like compounds in wastewater and soil treatment: a review

A number of oxidative enzymes from bacteria, fungi and plants have been reported to play an important role in numerous waste treatment applications. Peroxidases and/or phenoloxidases can act on specific recalcitrant pollutants by precipitation or transforming to other products and permitting a better final treatment of the waste. Improvement in the useful life and thereby a reduction in treatment cost has been accomplished through enzyme immobilization. Horseradish peroxidase, lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase mineralize a variety of recalcitrant aromatic compounds. Immobilization of these enzymes on porous ceramic supports or resins did not adversely affect their stability and showed a good potential for degradation of environment persistent aromatics. Tyrosinase, which catalyzes the hydroxylation of phenols and dehydrogenation of o-diphenols, in an immobilized form exerted an excellent phenol removal. Laccase is capable of eliminating the phenols through polymerization process, however, the presence of mediator such as ABTS and HBT degraded phenol by oxidative process. Many applications with oxidative enzymes and plant materials in effluent as in soil remediation will be discussed.