Food wastes clean water wastes: melon peel peroxidase isolation and immobilization onto magnetite nanoparticles for phenol removal

Abstract

In this study, melon peel waste was utilized to isolate peroxidase enzyme through three-phase portioning (TPP) and subsequently immobilized onto magnetite nanoparticles for effective bioremediation of phenol pollutants from water. The optimization of TPP parameters ensured maximum activity recovery and enzyme purity. Magnetite nanoparticles were synthesized and used as a substrate for immobilizing the isolated peroxidase, achieving an activity recovery of 157% and a purification fold of 5.2. Protein homogeneity testing confirmed the purity of the peroxidase enzyme. The magnetite nanoparticles had an average diameter of 62 nm, and the immobilization efficiency reached 93% at pH 8 with an enzyme/nanoparticles v/v ratio of 1:9. The immobilized peroxidase demonstrated the ability to degrade 57% of phenol within 3 h and retained 30% relative activity even after five catalytic cycles. This immobilized melon peel peroxidase on magnetite nanoparticles proves to be a robust, enduring, and reusable biocatalyst with potential for various applications, especially in bioremediation processes. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]