The Sustainable Production of a Novel Laccase from Wheat Bran by Bordetella sp. JWO16: Toward a Total Environment

John Onolame Unuofin

doi:10.3390/catal11060677

Abstract

Laccase is increasingly adopted in diverse industrial and environmental applications, due to its readily accessible requirements for efficient catalytic synthesis and biotransformation of chemicals. However, it is perceived that its industrial production might incur some unfavorable overhead, which leads to expensive market products, and the corresponding negative environmental feedback, due to the use of capital-intensive and precarious chemicals. To this end, this study was designed to evaluate the performance indicators of the valorization of wheat bran by a novel Jb1b laccase and its subsequent application in waste minimization and water management, on a laboratory scale. Optimal Jb1b laccase was produced in submerged fermentation medium containing wheat bran, an agroindustrial residue, through response surface methodology (RSM) algorithm, and was applied in dye decolorization and denim bioscouring, respectively. Results showed that the resultant enzyme manifested unique biochemical properties, such as enhanced tolerance at certain physicochemical conditions, with a residual activity of at least ca. 76%. Furthermore, phenomenally high concentrations of synthetic dyes (0.2% w v−1) were decolorized over 56 h, and a 6 h mediator-supported simultaneous denim bleaching and decolorization of wash effluent was observed. The sustainability of the production and application processes were inferred from the reusability of the fermentation sludge as a potential biofertilizer, with subsequent prospects for the biostimulation and bioaugmentation of contaminated soils, whereas the decolorized water could be adopted for other uses, amongst which horticulture and forestry are typical examples. These phenomena therefore authenticate the favorable environmental feedbacks and overhead realized in this present study.

Highlights

The production of fine bulk biochemicals and other value-added bioproducts for a robust bioeconomy is beginning to derive attention from many capitalist-directed countries worldwide
The towering concern and cynicism about the environmental footprints which are anticipated from the large-scale production of industrially relevant biochemical, the offshoots from their catalytic reactions, and the disposal of feedstock at the end of their lifecycle, has necessitated the initiation and maintenance of environmental sustainability
Laccase production was screened under various cultural and nutritional conditions, in a unifactorial approach, where independent parameters such as pH, nitrogen and carbon source, inorganic and aromatic compounds were observed to be crucial to the high laccase yields

Summary

Introduction

The production of fine bulk biochemicals and other value-added bioproducts for a robust bioeconomy is beginning to derive attention from many capitalist-directed countries worldwide. This is done in a bid to accommodate a more environmentally friendly production process, as various governments are beginning to tighten environmental policies with regard to industrialization and industrial production. A critical perspective of the environmental economics of production must be considered, as it is expected that the assets must outweigh the liabilities, in this case. In a critical study by Sheldon [1], the all-encompassing metrics regarding the manufacture of a certain product was appraised, where cost and environmental benefits were pivotal in the ratification of a production process. A previous review had elucidated the environomics of a production process, with particular regard to laccase production, which presumed the adoption of environmental wastes as more beneficial, when compared to conventional feedstock [2]

Methods

Results

Conclusion