AbstractsEngineering

Soybean peroxidase (SBP)-catalyzed removal of phenol from a petroleum refinery sour wastewater was investigated. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), SBP, and Triton X-100 concentrations were optimized for the enzymatic removal of 95% phenol. Pretreatment by H2O2 was required to provide enough H2O2 for substrate conversion. Following enzymatic treatment, nitrification and denitrification reactions were conducted with varying concentrations of phenol, to determine what phenol concentration would completely inhibit the reactions. The nitrification process was optimized for carbon concentration, and a phenol concentration of approximately 100 mg/L completely inhibited the process. The denitrification process was optimized for mixed liquor suspended solid (MLSS) concentration, and a phenol concentration of approximately 125 mg/L completely inhibited the process. It was determined that the enzyme-catalyzed treatment method was successful in removing 95% of the phenol concentration, and this method should be implemented prior to nitrogen removal at the petroleum refinery, in order for nitrification-denitrification to proceed efficiently.