Studies on bitter gourd peroxidase catalyzed removal of p-bromophenol from wastewater

In the present study a systematic treatment of p-bromophenol has been optimized using a peroxidase derived from bitter gourd. Maximum 94% removal of the targeted phenol was obtained in presence of 0.4 U mL(-1) of peroxidase, 0.75 mM H2O2, and 0.1 mg mL(-1) of an additive, polyethylene glycol. However, in absence of polyethylene glycol about 1.2 U mL(-1) of peroxidase was able to remove about 70% of the phenolic compound. This enzyme showed about 32% of p-bromophenol removal in the presence of 0.1 mM sodium azide and polyethylene glycol while as the enzyme was completely inhibited by sodium azide in absence of an additive. Hence, the present results demonstrate a good potentiality of bitter gourd peroxidase towards the treatment of halogenated phenolic compound in presence of an additive. Treated compound exhibited low toxicity as demonstrated by Allium cepa test. UV absorbance spectra showed that there was a remarkable decrease in absorption peak for the treated compound. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.