Synergy between horseradish peroxidase HRP and edible gelatin: A simple way to remove phenols and dyes simultaneously from wastewater

Abstract

Wastewater containing phenols or dyes is quite common. Given the potential harmful effects of such wastewater on both the environment and human health, there is a continuing demand for efficient, green, and cost-effective methods to remove these pollutants. In this study, edible gelatin was employed as an additive in conjunction with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) to purify wastewater containing phenols and dyes. Under optimized conditions, the combination of HRP and gelatin effectively purified various types of wastewater containing different phenols, achieving removal rates of up to 90 %. Furthermore, this strategy was successfully applied to the degradation of mixed wastewater containing dyes (methyl orange, methylene blue or/and rhodamine B) in the presence of phenol. High removal rates for both phenol and the dyes were also observed and the TOC removal rate reached as high as 94 %. Finally, a removal mechanism involving the HRP/gelatin system was proposed based on UV-Vis detection, particle size analysis, LC-MS, and TOC results. This green and efficient strategy for the removal of phenols and dyes from wastewater represents a valuable contribution to sustainable environmental remediation.