Effluent Treatment of Pulp and Paper, and Textile Industries using Immobilised Horseradish Peroxidase

Abstract

Horseradish peroxidase immobilisation on several supports and its utilisation for decontamination of effluent from paper and textile industries was evaluated. Among the supports, Amberlite IRA-400 ion exchange resin showed the best results for enzyme immobilisation, efficiency of colour removal and degradation of phenolic species from Kraft E1 effluent (first alkaline extraction), bleaching mixture effluent and black liquor. Effluent decolorisations over 50% were obtained after 4 h of enzymatic treatment, without significant adsorption of coloured species by the support. Decolorisation in pre-irradiated Kraft E1 effluent was kinetically more efficient than in a non-irradiated one. For this reason, the combined photo-enzymatic decolorisation procedure appears to be an efficient decontamination method with great potential for industrial effluent treatment.