Natural and synthetic hormone removal using the horseradish peroxidase enzyme: temperature and pH effects

Water Res. 2006 Aug;40(15):2847-56. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2006.05.032. Epub 2006 Jul 18.

Abstract

The primary objective of our research was to establish the technical feasibility of using the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme for natural and synthetic estrogens-estrone (E1), 17beta-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), and 17alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2)-removal. The effects of temperature and pH on enzymatic treatment kinetics were investigated. Residual estrogen concentrations were quantified by liquid chromatography, coupled with mass spectrometry analysis. In a synthetic solution at pH 7 and 25+/-1 degrees C, the HRP enzyme-catalyzed process was capable of achieving 92-100% removal of E1, E2, E3, and EE2 within 1h of treatment with an HRP activity of 0.017 U/ml. The influence of the pH (5-9) and temperature (5-35 degrees C) on estrogen removal was observed to be significant, with the optimum pH near neutral conditions. The results also showed that wastewater constituents significantly impact the HRP-catalyzed estrogen removal. The experimental research proved that the HRP-catalyzed system is technically feasible for the removal of the main estrogens present in the environment at low concentrations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Colorimetry / methods
  • Estradiol / analysis
  • Estriol / analysis
  • Estrone / analysis
  • Ethinyl Estradiol / analysis
  • Hormones / analysis*
  • Horseradish Peroxidase / chemistry*
  • Horseradish Peroxidase / metabolism
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Kinetics
  • Models, Chemical
  • Temperature
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*
  • Water Purification / instrumentation
  • Water Purification / methods*

Substances

  • Hormones
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Estrone
  • Ethinyl Estradiol
  • Estradiol
  • Horseradish Peroxidase
  • Estriol