Date of Award

1995

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.Sc.

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Keywords

Engineering, Environmental.

Supervisor

Bewtra, J. K.,

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

Studies have shown that horseradish peroxidase (HRP), Arthromyces ramosus peroxidase (ARP), and soybean peroxidase (SBP) can effectively remove phenolic compounds from wastewater. Work has been completed at optimizing the performance conditions for at least 95% removal of phenolic compounds in a continuously stirred batch reactor using HRP, ARP, and SBP. The enzymes were evaluated in two real wastewater matrices, under high and low phenol concentrations. Phenolic wastewater was collected from a petroleum refinery, and from an iron foundry that manufactures automotive components. The refinery sample had a phenol concentration of approximately 100 mg/L (1.0 mM), while the foundry sample contained about 140 mg/L (1.5 mM). The pH of the wastewaters was measured at 7.0 and 7.6 respectively. Low phenol concentration was the concentration of the wastewater as received, while high phenol concentration involved spiking the wastewater with additional pure phenol to a final concentration of 10 mM. Each enzyme/wastewater system was optimized for the following chemical dosages; hydrogen peroxide, enzyme, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and buffer. Furthermore, the reaction time to achieve at least 95% removal of phenols was determined. Experimental results have shown that buffer had no effect on phenol removal efficiency for the wastewater systems studied. An increase in the $\rm H\sb2O\sb2$ concentration beyond the optimum dose resulted in enzyme inactivation, thus reducing the phenol removal efficiency. On the other hand, increasing the enzyme, PEG, and/or reaction time beyond the optimum values resulted in only a marginal increase in removal efficiency. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1995 .D36. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 34-06, page: 2449. Adviser: J. K. Bewtra. Thesis (M.A.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1995.

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