OPTIMIZATION OF HORSERADISH PEROXIDASE ENCAPSULATION WITHIN TYRAMINE-ALGINATE FOR PHENOL REMOVAL

Abstract

Phenolic compounds are one of the most common pollutants in aqueous systems, so their removal from water is of major interest. Among biocatalysts used for phenol removal, horseradish peroxidase is the most investigated for this purpose. Enzyme inactivation is a major problem which could be successfully overcome by immobilization of the enzyme onto different polymers. Tyramine-alginate micro-beads were tested for the immobilization of horseradish peroxidase. Different concentrations of tyramine-alginate were used and their influence on specific activity of the enzyme was tested. Increasing concentration of oxidized alginate results in increase of specific activity. Immobilized HRP was tested for phenol removal in a batch reactor. Presented results were obtained with HRP immobilized within 10 mol% tyramine-alginate micro-beads. These biocatalysts can be used up to three cycles.