Comparison of two agricultural wastes for phenol removal via peroxidase-catalyzed enzymatic approach

Abstract

© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2016. Agricultural wastes of jicama and luffa skin peels were used as the source for peroxidase extraction. The extracted crude enzymes showed similar activities, 1.34U/mL and 1.22U/mL for jicama and luffa peroxidase respectively. These peroxidases were used to treat phenol under varying operating conditions of buffer pH, hydrogen peroxide concentration, enzyme volume and temperature. Jicama peroxidase demonstrated a phenol removal efficiency of approximately 90% at buffer pH 7, 1mM hydrogen peroxide using 1.5mL enzyme at 25°C. Luffa peroxidase required a higher dosage of hydrogen peroxide, and exhibited a removal efficiency of 84% at 8mM with other operating conditions same as jicama peroxidase. Jicama peroxidase is sensitive to pH change and more susceptible to thermal denaturation. Luffa peroxidase showed a better stability in terms of temperature.