Date of Award

2008

Publication Type

Doctoral Thesis

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Department

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Keywords

Health and environmental sciences, Pure sciences, Aromatic compounds, Laccase, Wastewater

Supervisor

Keith E. Taylor

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

Laccase SP 504 from Trametes villosa, a fungal laccase, was investigated for its capacity to catalyze the oxidative polymerization of hazardous aromatic pollutants (phenol, o-, m-, p-cresol, aniline, o-, m-, p-toluidine) in the presence of O2. Experiments were conducted to determine the optimum pH, minimum enzyme concentration for ≥ 95% conversion of substrate, minimum PEG concentration for optimum effect (if applicable), and the effect of PEG molecular weight on removal efficiencies. Other factors investigated were: the fate of PEG in the reactor, removal over a 3 h reaction period, activity over 3 h reaction period, and the effect of reducing anions and halides in p-cresol conversion. For the three cresol isomers a preliminary kinetic study was done with and without PEG. Lastly the effectiveness of laccase in the removal of phenol in 5 refinery samples was compared to the removal of phenol in synthetic wastewater.

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