PEROXIDASE-CATALYZED POLYMERIZATION OF PHENOL

The effect of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and H2O2 concentrations on the removal efficiency of phenol, defined as the percentage of phenol removed from solution as a function of time, has been investigated. Wh en phenol and H2O2 react with an approximately one-to-one stoichiometr y, the phenol is almost completely precipitated within 10 min. The rea ction is inhibited at higher concentrations of H2O2. The removal effic iency increases with an increase in the concentration of HRP, but an i ncrease in the time of treatment cannot be used to offset the reductio n in removal efficiency at low concentrations of the enzyme, because o f inactivation of the enzyme. One molecule of HRP is needed to remove approximately 1100 molecules of phenol when the reaction is conducted at pH 8.0 and at ambient temperature.