Manganese Peroxidase Catalyzed Removal of Phenol and Simple Alkylphenols from Water

Phenol (Ph), bisphenol A (BPA), and cresol isomers (o-, m-, p-C) are pollutants widely detected in industrial effluents and resistant to conventional treatment. This study investigated the catalytic potential of manganese peroxidase (MnP), derived from Phanerochaete chrysosporium and expressed in corn, for the removal, via oxidative oligomerization and precipitation, of these compounds from water. Batch experiments were conducted under controlled pH, hydrogen peroxide concentration, and enzyme activity to achieve ≥95% substrate conversion. The optimized MnP system nearly achieved this under stepwise hydrogen peroxide addition. Kinetic analyses revealed short half-lives for initial degradation phases, with BPA and p-C showing near-instantaneous transformation. Mass spectrometry confirmed the formation of soluble and insoluble oligomers (to hexamers for BPA, octamers for p-C, dodecamers for the rest), confirming radical-mediated polymerization pathways. These findings highlight MnP as a robust and eco-friendly biocatalyst for efficient treatment of phenolic pollutants, offering significant potential for integration into advanced wastewater treatment systems.