Biocatalytic degradation of pharmaceuticals, personal care products, industrial chemicals, steroid hormones and pesticides in a membrane distillation-enzymatic bioreactor. (January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Asif, Muhammad B.; Hai, Faisal I.; Kang, Jinguo; van de Merwe, Jason P.; Leusch, Frederic D.L.; Price, William E.; Nghiem, Long D.
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 247(2018)
• Page Start: 528
• Page End: 536
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Subjects: Biocatalysis -- Laccase -- Membrane distillation -- Redox-mediator -- Trace organic contaminants; Biomass -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; Déchets agricoles -- Périodiques; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets organiques -- Périodiques; Déchets (Combustible) -- Périodiques; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.09.129
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Highlights: Coupling membrane distillation to an enzymatic bioreactor effectively removed TrOC. Laccase-catalyzed degradation contributed significantly to overall TrOC removal. Redox-mediator (SA or VA) addition showed TrOC-specific improved degradation. Mixture of mediators SA-VA could not further improve resistant TrOC degradation. Membrane permeate was non-toxic, and membrane properties remained unaffected. Abstract: Laccase-catalyzed degradation of a broad spectrum of trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) by a membrane distillation (MD)-enzymatic membrane bioreactor (EMBR) was investigated. The MD component effectively retained TrOCs (94–99%) in the EMBR, facilitating their continuous biocatalytic degradation. Notably, the extent of TrOC degradation was strongly influenced by their molecular properties. A significant degradation (above 90%) of TrOCs containing strong electron donating functional groups ( e.g., hydroxyl and amine groups) was achieved, while a moderate removal was observed for TrOCs containing electron withdrawing functional groups ( e.g., amide and halogen groups). Separate addition of two redox-mediators, namely syringaldehyde and violuric acid, further improved TrOC degradation by laccase. However, a mixture of both showed a reduced performance for a few pharmaceuticals such as primidone, carbamazepine and ibuprofen. Mediator addition increased the toxicity of the media in the enzymatic bioreactor, but the membrane permeate ( i.e., final effluent) was non-toxic, suggesting an added advantage of coupling MD with EMBR.