BIOTRANSFORMATION OF A PAPER AND CELLULOSE FACTORY EFFLUENT IN THE PRESENCE OF LACCASE AND HORSERADISH PEROXIDASE

ABSTRACT The biodegradation of effluent from an industrial paper mill was monitored in relation to the parameters total phenols, low molar mass phenols and color during its incubation with laccase (Novozymes), laccase-HBT and peroxidase (Merck). The results revealed that the laccase reduced the effluent color by 37% and the peroxidase by 43%. Also, the enzymes had a great efficiency in the reduction of color, total phenols and high molar mass compounds contained in the effluent, indicating that depolymerization occurred.