Title : Exploration of the application of free and immobilized laccase enzymes for the treatment of paper industry effluent
Abstract:
Industries like pulp and paper mills are water-intensive and thus generate wastewater daily containing environmental contaminants like color, lignin, and phenolic compounds. Traditional wastewater treatment techniques are no longer effective in removing some of the pollutants that are not generally in municipal wastewater. Therefore, it is imperative to continue reviewing and researching alternative technologies to lessen the adverse effects on the environment. The use of biocatalysts is one such technique for eliminating these pollutants in wastewater. In this study, the application of free and immobilized laccase enzymes is explored on the effectiveness in removing color, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), lignin, and total phenols. The effluent samples were taken from the pulp and paper industry in the South of Durban (South Africa). The effluent was screened for debris before being used in the reactor. The research uses the design of experiments technique developed by Taguchi to identify optimized conditions for the reactor performance. It uses a typical orthogonal matrix L9 to investigate four independent factors at three levels. The variables of interest are reaction time, catalyst concentration, reactor temperature, and pH level. Finally, the reusability of the catalyst was investigated to eliminate the generation of waste from the proposed treatment technique. The study will report the preliminary results of the treatment system. This research serves as a baseline for alternative treatment technologies to traditional methods and offers insightful information regarding the use of biocatalysts for the elimination of pollutants in pulp and paper industrial wastewater. The findings will serve as a foundation for future investigations into improving biocatalyst-based water treatment procedures.
Audience Take Away
- Understanding laccase technology can help them stay informed about potential eco-friendly solutions for wastewater treatment. This could be valuable for meeting future environmental regulations and improving the industry's sustainability image.
- They might consider using laccase enzymes as part of a multi-stage treatment process or explore collaborating with research institutions to develop this technology further.
- This presentation will offer insights into a new approach to wastewater treatment and the potential of laccase enzymes. Faculty or researchers could use this information to design further studies on optimizing laccase use, exploring its effect on specific pollutants, or comparing its efficiency with other treatment methods.
- Designers involved in developing new paper production processes or wastewater treatment plants could learn about using laccase enzymes as a potential unit operation. This might influence their design choices for a more sustainable approach.
- By understanding this emerging technology, designers can stay ahead of the curve and incorporate future possibilities for enzymatic treatment into their designs.
- Future research might lead to practical applications that simplify wastewater treatment processes, making them more efficient and cost-effective for the paper industry.
