Enzymatic Treatment of Cresols in Water

Soybean peroxidase (SBP) is a promising enzyme for wastewater treatment due to its ability to catalyze the oxidation of aromatic compounds, leading to the formation of precipitable polymers. This study investigates SBP's efficacy in removing p-, o-, and m-cresol from water. Experimental optimization using a continuously stirred batch reactor achieved 98, 97, and 100% removal efficiencies for p-, o-, and m-cresol, respectively. Optimal conditions were determined for each isomer at 1.0 mM: 0.4 U/mL SBP, pH 7.0, and 1.0 mM H2O2 for p-cresol; 0.7 U/mL SBP, pH 9.0, and 1.2 mM H2O2 for o-cresol; and 0.8 U/mL SBP, pH 8.0, and 1.1 mM H2O2 for m-cresol. These findings highlight SBP's potential for sustainable, efficient cresol removal in wastewater treatment, underscoring its relevance in both industrial and environmental applications.