Biocatalytic System Made of 3D Chitin, Silica Nanopowder and Horseradish Peroxidase for the Removal of 17α-Ethinylestradiol: Determination of Process Efficiency and Degradation Mechanism.

Tomasz Machałowski,Hermann Ehrlich,Karolina Bachosz,Ewa Kaczorek,Jakub Zdarta,Katarzyna Jankowska,Teofil Jesionowski,Wojciech Smułek

doi:10.3390/molecules27041354

Abstract

The occurrence of 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) in the environment and its removal have drawn special attention from the scientific community in recent years, due to its hazardous effects on human and wildlife around the world. Therefore, the aim of this study was to produce an efficient enzymatic system for the removal of EE2 from aqueous solutions. For the first time, commercial silica nanopowder and 3D fibrous chitinous scaffolds from Aplysina fistularis marine sponge were used as supports for horseradish peroxidase (HRP) immobilization. The effect of several process parameters onto the removal mechanism of EE2 by enzymatic conversion and adsorption of EE2 were investigated here, including system type, pH, temperature and concentrations of H2O2 and EE2. It was possible to fully remove EE2 from aqueous solutions using system SiO2(HRP)–chitin(HRP) over a wide investigated pH range (5–9) and temperature ranges (4–45 °C). Moreover, the most suitable process conditions have been determined at pH 7, temperature 25 °C and H2O2 and EE2 concentrations equaling 2 mM and 1 mg/L, respectively. As determined, it was possible to reuse the nanoSiO2(HRP)–chitin(HRP) system to obtain even 55% EE2 degradation efficiency after five consecutive catalytic cycles.

Highlights

To improve the removal efficiency of estrogens in our research, we have focused on designing of a novel biocatalytic systems formed after various combinations of chitin and nanosilica, pristine and with immobilized horseradish peroxidase to establish practical utility of the EE2 removal system composed for removal of synthetic 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) from aqueous solutions
Over 50% degradation efficiency of estrogen was noted after the application of system (ii), where horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was immobilized only onto the chitinous scaffold
A novel approach for the removal of 17α-ethinylestradiol from water solutions using simultaneous adsorption and biocatalytic conversion was shown. This approach consists of the application of a two-stage process using horseradish peroxidase immobilized onto nanosilica or a 3D fibrous chitinous scaffold from A. fistularis marine sponges, supported by the use of pristine materials or materials with immobilized enzymes in the second stage of the removal

Summary

Introduction

Nowadays, increasing environmental pollution by endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is a dangerous risk to wildlife and human health, which is caused by the constantly growing pharmaceutical and veterinary market and everyday consumption of these chemicals [1]. It was proved that EDCs mimic natural hormones and can lead to many disorders of the body’s functioning, such as blocking of receptors or limitations of metabolic processes [2,3]. In work presented by Nazari and Suja [4], it was described that. EDCs may cause male’s gonad dysmorphias and embryo deformations.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion