Removal of phenolic compounds in water using Coriolus versicolor grown on wheat bran

Culture filtrate extracted from Coriolus versicolor grown on wheat bran sup plemented with yeast extract was used to remove a range of phenolic compoun ds. The removal was due to the presence of laccase. Mn-dependent peroxidase was also present but was strongly inactivated by the phenolic compounds in vestigated, suggesting it may not be involved in the removal process. Lacca se was also inactivated to some degree. The effect of the position of subst itution of chlorine on the benzene ring and ifs influence on the removal wa s examined Phenolic compounds with chlorine substitutions in ortho and para positions were easily attacked by the enzyme unlike compounds with substit utions in the meta position. In addition, the effect of solution oxygen con centration on the removal of phenolic compounds was studied. An increase in dissolved oxygen concentration resulted in increased removal efficiency. ( C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.