Optimization of laccase-alginate-chitosan-based matrix toward 17 α-ethinylestradiol removal.

Laccase extract (LE) from Pycnoporus sanguineus was immobilized on calcium and copper alginate-chitosan beads and applied for the removal of 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2). Effects of immobilization conditions such as: sodium alginate (SA) concentration; LE/SA ratio and chitosan/ion (Ca+2 or Cu+2) ratio on the immobilization yield were investigated. Immobilized LE on Ca-beads and Cu-beads was then used to degrade an EE2 solution. The optimal conditions for LE immobilization on Ca-beads were: 1.5% (w/v) SA, 1:5 (v/v) LE/SA and 3:7 (v/v) chitosan/ion (Ca+2). The optimal conditions for immobilization on Cu-beads were 2.0% (w/v) SA, 0.5:5 (v/v) LE/SA and 3:7 (v/v) chitosan/ion (Cu+2). The best result was obtained for immobilized LE on Ca-beads in buffer-absent medium. Furthermore, the immobilized enzyme was reused in five cycles for EE2 removal. The formation of EE2 dimers by LE treatment has been demonstrated by electrospray ionization coupled to time of flight mass spectrometer (ESI-TOF-MS). The results evidenced that immobilized LE in alginate-chitosan-divalent cation bead is an effective alternative for EE2 removal.

Stability of immobilized laccase on Luffa Cylindrica fibers and assessment of synthetic hormone degradation.

In this work were studied the pH, thermal, and storage stability of free and immobilized laccases. Enzymes were produced by Pleurotus ostreatus on potato dextrose (PD) broth and potato dextrose modified (PDM) broth, and immobilized using Luffa cylindrica fibers as support. Both free and immobilized enzymes were assessed on their respective enzymatic activities and for 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) degradation. The optimum pH conditions concerning laccase activity ranged from 3.6 to 4.6, while temperature ranged between 30 °C and 50 °C for both free and immobilized enzyme. Laccase produced using PD broth presented greater storage stability and thermal stability than that of PDM. Best EE2 removals were of 79.22% and 75.00% for the free and immobilized enzymes, respectively. Removal rates were assessed during 8 h at pH 5. The removal of 17α-ethinylestradiol was stabilized in the fourth cycle of use. Results imply that immobilization promoted stability towards pH and temperature variations, although media played a decisive role in the enzymatic activity. Both free and immobilized laccases of P. ostreatus were able to degrade EE2, whereas immobilized laccase in PDM medium presented possible reuse applicability, albeit removal was not optimal when compared to other reports.

Removal of synthetic sex hormones by hydrothermal carbonization.

One of the most prominent fields of environmental chemistry is the study and the removal of micro-pollutants from aqueous matrices. Analytical techniques for their identification and quantification are becoming more sensitive and comprehensive and, as a result, an increasing number of drugs have been detected in environmental samples. However, the literature shows that conventional treatments for drinking water and wastewater are not sufficient for remove these compounds. This study aims to check whether the process of hydrothermal carbonization (CHT) is effective in removing the synthetic sex hormones: ethinyl estradiol, gestodene and cyproterone acetate from aqueous samples. The system used in CHT basically consists of a pressurized reactor made of stainless steel and solutions of compounds of interest, both individual and mixed, with a concentration of 1.0 µg.L-1 and a pH range of 2.0 to 3.0. The maximum surface temperature in the reactor was about 180 °C, the internal pressure was 20 bar with 90 minutes for the reaction. Four experiments were conducted, one for each hormone and one with the three hormones together. In individual tests removal of the compounds was found to be 99.8% for ethinyl estradiol, 99.3% for gestodene and 100% for cyproterone acetate. For a mixture of the hormones treated under the same conditions, the mean values of CHT-removal of Ethinylestradiol, Gestodene and Cyproterone Acetate were 99.60%, 96.80% and 68.90%, respectively. The impact of the matrix effect may have affected the efficiency of the hormone removal process by CHT.

Estudo da descoloração do corante FD&C azul no 2 Indigotina pelo tratamento combinado do fungo Trametes versicolor e processo de filtração lenta / Study of decolorization of FD&C blue # 2 indigotine by fungus Trametes versicolor combined with slow sand filtration

O uso de fungos na descoloração de corantes com métodos economicamente viáveis de produção de água bacteriologicamente segura há muito vem sendo descrito por diversos autores. Este trabalho teve por objetivo investigar a eficiência da remoção de corante artificial FD&C azul no 2 Indigotina, com uso do fungo de degradação branca Trametes versicolor em combinação com a filtração lenta. Para a realização dos trabalhos, foram instalados dois protótipos de filtros lentos denominados FL-A e FL-B - no sobrenadante do filtro FL-A foi inoculado o referido fungo, e o filtro FL-B foi utilizado como controle (sem inoculação do microrganismo). O melhor percentual de remoção do corante pelo fungo Trametes versicolor em combinação com a filtração lenta foi de 44,74% 24 horas após a atividade máxima registrada de lacase. Os resultados mostraram que a filtração lenta combinada com o tratamento com o fungo T. versicolor não apresenta grande potencial para remoção de cor em 21 dias de tratamento, visto que os produtos microbianos gerados interferem no processo de filtração, diminuindo a eficiência do processo físico. Entretanto, restringindo o tempo de tratamento a 24 horas após a atividade enzimática máxima, o tratamento combinado apresentou boa eficiência.

The use of fungi in the decolorization of dyes with economically viable methods of producing bacteriologically safe water has long been described by several authors. This study aimed to investigate the removal efficiency of artificial coloring FD&C Blue no 2 Indigo, using the degradation white fungus Trametes versicolor in combination with slow sand filtration. Two prototype filters slowly termed FL-A and FL-B were installed - the supernatant water of filter FL-A was inoculated with the fungus, while filter FL-B was used as control. The best percentage of dye removal by the fungus Trametes versicolor in combination with the slow sand filtration was 44.74% achieved 24 hours after the maximum laccase activity. The results show that the combination of the fungus T. versicolor with slow sand filtration treatment presents no great potential for color removal at 21 days of treatment, whereas microbial products generated interfere with the filtration process, lowering the efficiency of the physical process. However, with the restriction of the handling time into 24 hours after the maximum enzymatic activity, combined treatment showed good efficiency.