Removal of Organic Pollutants from Industrial Wastewater by Treatment with Oxidoreductase Enzymes

Removal of persistent organic pollutants in wastewaters of industrial origin is an increasingly relevant issue in industrialized countries that needs addressing. Remarkable research efforts have been made for the development and implementation of new efficient and eco-friendly treatments capable of reducing, or even eliminating, toxic compounds in effluents prior to their disposal. Enzymatic methods appear to be a promising technology for this task, with a minor impact on ecosystems as compared to physicochemical methods. The applicability of such technology has been explicitly demonstrated in a huge number of publications and patents registered to date. The present chapter focuses on the application of oxidoreductase enzymes in industrial wastewaters treatment. Numerous redox enzymes, including peroxidases, tyrosinases, and laccases from different sources, and even hemoglobin from animal blood have exhibited their potential for the remediation of a broad spectrum of recalcitrant organic compounds. However the implementation of this technology on an industrial scale still needs further research. Here the most important aspects about the current situation of the subject and future perspectives for the use of redox enzymes in industrial wastewaters treatment are highlighted.