Synergistic degradation of chlorophenol pollutants by a photo-enzyme integrated catalyst

Abstract

Laccase enzyme was immobilized on inert support followed by doping this composite with Cu for a more effective chlorophenol inactivation kinetics in the light and in the dark. To be specific, hollow titanium dioxide (H-TiO2) was prepared by using dendritic mesoporous silica nanoflowers (DMSNs) as hard template. Hollow titanium dioxide (H-TiO2) was used to prepare Cu-H-TiO2. The support structure stabilized laccase providing Lac@Cu-H-TiO2 with higher pH, thermal, and irradiation stability. Lac@Cu-H-TiO2 degraded 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) under visible light to about 95% within 12 h and was fairly stable up to 10 cycles. The stability data of the innovative compound addressed in this study is documented. The photo-active based enzyme integrated photocatalyst are shown in this pioneering study as promising candidates for phenolic pollutant degradation. This is based on the very high activity of enzymes compared to other chemical reagents.