Date of Award

7-7-2020

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.Sc.

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Supervisor

Nihar Biswas

Supervisor

Keith E. Taylor

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess

Abstract

Various heterocyclic aromatic compounds (HACs), widely used in pharmaceuticals, personal care products, household products and different industries have been detected in concentrations from ng/L to μg/L in surface and groundwater, soil and sediments as well as influent and effluent (treated wastewater and sludge) of municipal or industrial wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) around the world. The persistence of these so-called emerging contaminants (ECs) and their metabolites can cause toxicological and ecotoxicological effects, even at very low concentrations. A feasibility study of soybean peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation process, as environmentally-friendly and cost effective alternative method for transformation of three selected HACs was the first aim of the present study. Soybean peroxidase (SBP) is extracted from the seed coats (hulls) which are a by-product of crushing operations and are used in animal feed. Secondly, the most important operational parameters, pH, H2O2 concentration and enzyme activity were optimized for the two compounds that were substrates for SBP. Thirdly, time course study was conducted under optimized conditions to determine the initial first-order rate constant and half-life of each substrate. Finally, possible oligomerization products of enzymatic treatment were characterized by mass spectrometric analysis and showed formation of dimers and trimers for the two substrates.

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