Environmental pollution has increased in the past few decades due to the indiscriminate and frequently deliberate release of hazardous and harmful substances. Therefore numerous studies have been focused on the development of new, environmentally friendly processes that could reduce and even eliminate pollution. The remediation of contaminated sites using bioremediation seems to be one of the most effective and reliable methods. Among them, fungi and their enzymes have a great potential to effectively convert and degrade organic pollution.
The aim of the master's thesis was to evaluate the Dichomitus squalens ligninolytic enzyme laccase's potential for the degradation of pollutants. First the decolourisation of azo dye Chicago sky blue was investigated and then the decomposition of organic pollutants from pharmaceutical wastewater and metal industry wastewater was assessed. Enzymes showed to be effective towards azo dye, as they managed to decolourise 90% in 140 minutes. In pharmaceutical wastewater, enzymes were unable to degrade organic pollution, since Chemical oxygen demand and Dissolved organic carbon remained constant throughout the experiment. The impact on laccase activity is large, as the activity drops by 50% in first 2 days. It can be concluded that laccase of fungi D. squalens does not have the potential to degrade the organic pollution present in pharmaceutical wastewater. In metal industry wastewater, enzymes only partially degraded organic pollution. Within 8 days of experiment COD dropped by 26% and DOC by 31%.
During the last stage, the decolourisation of pharmaceutical wastewater and metal industry wastewater was evaluated. In pharmaceutical wastewater, the analysis showed no changes. In metal industry wastewater the change was noticeable at all 3 wavelengths. In 8-day experiment the water still does not reach the discharge limits; however, this could be achieved by prolonging the experiment. It can be concluded that laccase of fungi Dichomitus squalens have the potential to treat metal industry wastewater.
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