Date of Award

10-19-2015

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.Sc.

Department

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Keywords

4-phenylazophenol, enzymatic polymerization, micelle

Supervisor

Taylor, Keith

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

Soybean peroxidase-catalyzed 4-phenylazophenol polymerization was studied in both aqueous and micellar solutions. Two surfactants were used during the study (sodium dodecyl sulfate and Triton X-100). The critical micelle concentrations (CMC) of these two surfactants were determined by a colorimetric method. Evidence for pre-micelle formation was observed during CMC determination of SDS. The effect of buffer concentration on CMC value was investigated and it was found that the electrolytes have more impact on the ionic surfactant than the non-ionic one. The optimal conditions for pH, hydrogen peroxide concentration and soybean peroxidase concentration were investigated in both aqueous- and micellar-phase reactions of 4-phenylazophenol. High 4-phenylazophenol removal rate (99%) was observed in all cases. However, the efficiency of enzyme increases 28-fold in the presence of micelles. Instead of precipitate, a clear colored solution was found at the end of reaction in micellar solution. Adsorptive micellar flocculation was used to remove the colored product and can achieve over 95% colored product removal at its optimal condition.

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