Effect of reaction conditions on phenol removal by polymerization and precipitation using Coprinus cinereus peroxidase

The quantitative relationships between removal efficiency of phenol and rea ction conditions were investigated using Coprinus cinereus peroxidase. The most effective ratio of hydrogen peroxide to phenol was nearly 1/1 (mol/mol ) at an adequate enzyme dose. 12.2 U of the enzyme was needed to remove 1 m g of phenol when our peroxidase preparation was used. At an insufficient pe roxidase dose, the optimum pH value was 9.0, and lowering the reaction temp erature led to the improvement of removal efficiency. At an excess peroxida se dose, almost 100% removal of phenol was obtained over a wide range of pH (5-9) and temperature (0-60 degreesC). Despite the presence of culture med ium components, it was shown that Coprinus cinereus peroxidase had the same phenol polymerization performance as horseradish peroxidase or Arthromyces ramosus peroxidase. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.