Degradation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene by immobilized horseradish peroxidase and electrogenerated peroxide

This paper presents horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-catalyzed removal, of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) by an electrochemical packed-bed flow reactor operated in a circulating batch,mode with the help of in situ generated hydrogen peroxide. HRP immobilized on the reticulated vitreous carbon electrode was prepared for the cyclic voltammetry of 2,4,6-TNT. Effects of pH and temperature on the TNT electroreduction in 0.2 M phosphate buffer saturated with oxygen were examined. HRP immobilized carbon electrode was capable of catalyzing the oxidation and detoxification of 44 muM TNT in aqueous solution under optimized conditions. The removal rate of TNT for the electroenzymatic method was much greater than for electrochemical and biochemical methods. Stoichiometric and kinetic studies indicated that the hydrogen peroxide was utilized more effectively in the electroenzymatic method. Denitrification as intermediate reaction was also investigated. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.