Application of immobilized peroxidase for the removal of p-bromophenol from polluted water in batch and continuous processes

Concanavalin A layered calcium alginate-cellulose beads adsorbed and cross-linked peroxidase of Momordica charantia was employed for the treatment of p -bromophenol polluted water. Immobilized peroxidase showed remarkably higher storage stability and retained about 78% phenolic compound removal efficiency over a period of one-month9s storage at 4 °C. After a fourth repeated use immobilized enzyme retained nearly 50% p -bromophenol removal efficiency. p -Bromophenol removal by immobilized enzyme was ∼84% in the presence of 0.1 mM HgCl 2 . A significantly higher concentration of p -bromophenol was removed by immobilized enzyme in the presence of water-miscible organic solvents as compared to free enzyme. In stirred batch processes nearly 91%, 94% and 83% of p -bromophenol was removed in 3 h at 30, 40 and 50 °C, respectively. Immobilized enzyme present in two different reactors and operated at flow rates of 10 and 20 ml h −1 retained 75 and 65% p -bromophenol removal efficiency even after one month of their continuous operation. Absorption spectra for treated and untreated p -bromophenol exhibited a marked difference in absorbance at various wavelengths. Hence, it is concluded that reactors filled with immobilized enzymes can successfully be operated for the treatment of huge volumes of effluent containing various types of aromatic pollutants.