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Removal of Emerging Contaminants in Wastewater Using Biocatalysis Assisted by Electrochemical Process

Publication Date
Authors
Author Name
Sergio Fabian Lugo Bueno
Author Organization
Tecnologico de Monterrey
Author Name
Raúl García-Morales
Author Organization
Tecnológico de Monterrey
Author Name
Rubén Coronel
Author Organization
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)
Author Name
Iris Aguilar-Hernandez
Author Organization
Tecnológico de Monterrey
Author Name
José Elías Becerril-Bravo
Author Organization
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)
Author Name
José Antonio Barrios-Perez
Author Organization
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)
Author Name
Jürgen Mahlknecht
Author Organization
Tecnológico de Monterrey
Author Name
Anaid Cano-Quiroz
Author Organization
Tecnológico de Monterrey
Author Name
Nancy Ornelas-Soto
Author Organization
Tecnológico de Monterrey

Electrochemical methods like electrocoagulation (EC) can remove a vast array of compounds from wastewater but are not ideal for emerging pollutants found at low concentrations (ng/L to μg/L). In contrast, enzymes are known to effectively target these pollutants, but their performance can be hindered in complex water matrices. This work explores a biocatalytic treatment assisted by electrochemical processes to remove two emerging pollutants, Bisphenol A (BPA) and Triclosan (TCS) from municipal wastewater. The biocatalyst consisted in a laccase obtained from P. sanguineus CS43 immobilized onto titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO2). Samples were obtained from the secondary effluent (SE) of a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Mexico City.  EC was optimized to remove major pollutants from the wastewater samples and generate a suitable matrix for biocatalysis. EC was carried out with aluminum (Al) plates as electrodes. Electrochemical parameters were optimized by means of response surface methodology using pH, current density and treatment time as factors and enzymatic relative activity as the response variable. The EC-biocatalytic treatment reached 76% and 42% removal of BPA and TCS respectively. Color removal observed during biocatalysis suggested that other remaining compounds from the electrochemical processes may be transformed by laccases. 

Source
Tecnológico de Monterrey
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