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Development of a Surfactant-Containing Process to Improve the Removal Efficiency of Phenol and Control the Molecular Weight of Synthetic Phenolic Polymers Using Horseradish Peroxidase in an Aqueous System

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Abstract

To reduce phenolic pollutants in the environment, many countries have imposed firm restrictions on industrial wastewater discharge. In addition, the current industrial process of phenolic resin production uses phenol and formaldehyde as the reactants to perform a polycondensation reaction. Due to the toxicity of formaldehyde and phenolic pollutants, the main purpose of this research was to design a green process using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzymatic polymerization to remove phenols and to produce formaldehyde-free phenolic polymers. In this study, the optimal reaction conditions, such as reaction temperature, pH, initial phenol concentration and initial ratio of phenol, and H2O2, were examined. Then, the parameters of the enzyme kinetics were determined. To solve the restriction of enzyme inactivation, several nonionic surfactants were selected to improve the phenol removal efficiency, and the optimal operation conditions in a surfactant-containing system were also confirmed. Importantly, the molecular weight of the synthetic phenolic polymers could be controlled by adjusting the ratio of phenol and H2O2. The content of biphenols in the products was almost undetectable. Collectively, a green chemistry process was proposed in this study and would benefit the treatment of phenol-containing wastewater and the production of formaldehyde-free phenolic resin in the future.

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Abbreviations

BLC:

Bovine liver catalase

GPC:

Gel permeation chromatography

HPLC:

High-performance liquid chromatography

HRP:

Horseradish peroxidase

IARC:

International Agency for Research on Cancer

KM :

Michaelis constant

Mn:

Number average molecular weights

Mw:

Weight average molecular weights

THF:

Tetrahydrofuran

US EPA:

United States Environmental Protection Agency

V0 :

Initial rate

Vmax :

Maximal velocity

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Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan, Republic of China [MOST 106-2622-8-007-017, MOST 107-2622-8-007-015, and MOST 108-2622-8-007-016].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Yuan Ze University, No. 135, Yuan-Tung road, Chung-Li District, Taoyuan City, 32003, Taiwan

    Chao-Ling Yao, Che-Chi Lin & Yi-Ting Lai

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan

    I-Ming Chu

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  1. Chao-Ling Yao
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Correspondence to Chao-Ling Yao.

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Yao, CL., Lin, CC., Chu, IM. et al. Development of a Surfactant-Containing Process to Improve the Removal Efficiency of Phenol and Control the Molecular Weight of Synthetic Phenolic Polymers Using Horseradish Peroxidase in an Aqueous System. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 191, 45–58 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-020-03245-6

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