Enzymatic reuse of simulated dyeing process effluent using horseradish peroxidase

Abstract

AbstractReactive dyes are complex structures that cause environmental damage when discarded. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reuse of effluent from an enzyme‐catalyzed dyeing process. The main parameters that influence the degradation of the mixture of dyes using the enzyme horseradish peroxidase were studied using response surface methodology: enzyme, hydrogen peroxide, and dye concentrations as well as the pH. The best conditions for the synthetic effluent were then applied to the reuse of the effluent from the dyeing process in laboratory and pilot scales. In the studies in pilot scale a high colour intensity was obtained (ΔE* value of 0.6) and a good washing fastness (4.0). The results obtained indicate that peroxidases could be used for colour removal on an industrial scale to save water and energy in the post‐dyeing process, reusing part of this effluent with the same efficiency as that of a traditional process.