The biocatalytic elimination of the endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) nonylphenol (NP) and bisphenol A (BPA) and the personal care product ingredient triclosan (TCS) by the enzyme preparation from the white rot fungus Coriolopsis polyzona was investigated. Analysis of variance methodology showed that the pH and the temperature are statistically significant factors in the removal of NP, BPA and TCS.
The elimination of NP and TCS was best at a temperature of 50 degrees C and the disappearance of BPA at 40 degrees C, whereas the most suitable pH for all three micropollutants was 5. After a 4-h treatment of the three target compounds at concentrations of 5 mg l(-1) all of the NP and BPA were eliminated. In the case of TCS, 65% was removed after either a 4 or an 8-h treatment.
The utilisation of 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) in the laccase/mediator system significantly increased the efficiency of the enzymatic treatment. The elimination of NP and BPA was directly associated with the disappearance of the estrogenic activity.
Mass spectrometry analysis showed that the enzymatic treatment produced high molecular weight metabolites through a radical polymerization mechanism of NP, BPA and TCS. These oligomers were produced through the formation of C-C or C-O bonds. The polymerization of NP produced dimers, trimers, tetramers and pentamers which had molecular weights of 438, 656, 874 and 1092 amu respectively.
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The polymerization of BPA produced dimers, trimers and tetramers which had molecular weights of 454, 680 and 906 amu. Finally, the polymerization of TCS produced dimers, trimers and tetramers which had molecular weights of 574, 859 and 1146 amu.