Env Exp Biol (2014) 12: 121–129

Fenton process for Basic Red 9 degradation: immobilized apolaccase on a nanomagnetite system

Abstract

The Fenton process was used for decolorization of Basic Red 9 (BR9) from industrial wastewater using nanomagnetite (FeO × Fe₂O₃) immobilized on starch and modified with apolaccase. Changes on the starch surface were assessed with a scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The parameters of the decolorization system, such as pH of the reaction (3 to 9), temperature (20 to 80 °C), contact time (0 to 180 min), initial BR9 concentration (0 to 50 ppm), and adsorbent concentrations (0 to 0.2 g) were investigated to understand their effects on the removal of BR9. The optimized parameters were found as follows: pH 6, temperature 40 to 60 °C, contact time 30 min, initial BR9 concentration 50 ppm, and adsorbent concentration 0.1 g. These results indicate that immobilized nanomagnetite (81.08 % yield) or apolaccase modified immobilized nanomagnetite (87.70 % yield) can be used for removing BR9 in industrial wastewater by the Fenton process. In addition, these experiments showed that the adsorbent was re-useable, cheap, biocompatible, easy to prepare, nontoxic (nanomagnetite, H₂O₂ and starch) and usable for Fenton reactions with and without apolaccase. Therefore, it is concluded that this adsorbent can be used for decolorization of toxic dyes from industrial waste water.