Keywords Biodegradation · Bioremediation · Enzyme · Immobilization · Laccase ·
Micropollutant · Nanobiocatalyst · Nanobiosensor · Nanocomposite · Nanomaterial ·
Nanoparticle · Peroxidase
16.1 Introduction
Water and soil contamination rates are increasing, therefore the need for developing
effective remediation techniques is becoming more and more urgent. Nanotechnologies, which have been extensively studied in recent years, have the potential to
provide satisfactory solutions for many types of environmental pollution (Rizwan
et al. 2014). However, the release of nanoparticles into the environment causes
certain health and environmental concerns (Handy et al. 2008). Nanomaterials
exhibit unique physicochemical properties and represent novel and interesting
matrices for the immobilization of various biologically active molecules.
Immobilized enzymes have several applications in various industrial sectors (Ansari
and Husain 2012). However, in the field of bioremediation, nanobiocatalysts represent a new approach, and the high number of recently published research papers
indicates an increasing interest in this area.
This chapter includes a list of the enzymes that are typically used for bioremediation purposes. The main focus of this chapter is on the basic parameters influencing
enzyme immobilization, the different types of nanomaterials used for this purpose,
and the corresponding immobilization techniques. Advantages and disadvantages of
the nanomaterials as immobilization matrix are discussed as well. Current development of biosensors for pollutant detection is also described, and a recent progress in
the application of various nanobiocatalysts for bioremediation purposes is evaluated.
16.2 Free Enzymes Used for Bioremediation
Enzymes are specific biocatalysts that accelerate the conversion of substrates into
products by providing favorable conditions that lower the activation energy of the
reaction. A large number of enzymes from bacteria, fungi, and plants have been
reported to be involved in the biodegradation of toxic organic pollutants (Karigar
and Rao 2011).
The main detoxification enzymes (oxygenases, laccases, peroxidases) belong to
the group of oxidoreductases (EC 1). These enzymes catalyze the transfer of
electrons from a donor to an acceptor and the contaminants are often oxidized
into less harmful compounds. Monooxygenases are involved in the process of
desulfurization, dehalogenation, denitrification, ammonification, hydroxylation,
biotransformation, and biodegradation of various aromatic and aliphatic compounds (Arora et al. 2010). However, large-scale applications of monooxygenases
are hampered by their price and the price of their cofactors. Laccases represent
another interesting group of oxidoreductases that exhibit a great bioremediation
346
M. Čvančarová et al.
Micropollutant · Nanobiocatalyst · Nanobiosensor · Nanocomposite · Nanomaterial ·
Nanoparticle · Peroxidase
16.1 Introduction
Water and soil contamination rates are increasing, therefore the need for developing
effective remediation techniques is becoming more and more urgent. Nanotechnologies, which have been extensively studied in recent years, have the potential to
provide satisfactory solutions for many types of environmental pollution (Rizwan
et al. 2014). However, the release of nanoparticles into the environment causes
certain health and environmental concerns (Handy et al. 2008). Nanomaterials
exhibit unique physicochemical properties and represent novel and interesting
matrices for the immobilization of various biologically active molecules.
Immobilized enzymes have several applications in various industrial sectors (Ansari
and Husain 2012). However, in the field of bioremediation, nanobiocatalysts represent a new approach, and the high number of recently published research papers
indicates an increasing interest in this area.
This chapter includes a list of the enzymes that are typically used for bioremediation purposes. The main focus of this chapter is on the basic parameters influencing
enzyme immobilization, the different types of nanomaterials used for this purpose,
and the corresponding immobilization techniques. Advantages and disadvantages of
the nanomaterials as immobilization matrix are discussed as well. Current development of biosensors for pollutant detection is also described, and a recent progress in
the application of various nanobiocatalysts for bioremediation purposes is evaluated.
16.2 Free Enzymes Used for Bioremediation
Enzymes are specific biocatalysts that accelerate the conversion of substrates into
products by providing favorable conditions that lower the activation energy of the
reaction. A large number of enzymes from bacteria, fungi, and plants have been
reported to be involved in the biodegradation of toxic organic pollutants (Karigar
and Rao 2011).
The main detoxification enzymes (oxygenases, laccases, peroxidases) belong to
the group of oxidoreductases (EC 1). These enzymes catalyze the transfer of
electrons from a donor to an acceptor and the contaminants are often oxidized
into less harmful compounds. Monooxygenases are involved in the process of
desulfurization, dehalogenation, denitrification, ammonification, hydroxylation,
biotransformation, and biodegradation of various aromatic and aliphatic compounds (Arora et al. 2010). However, large-scale applications of monooxygenases
are hampered by their price and the price of their cofactors. Laccases represent
another interesting group of oxidoreductases that exhibit a great bioremediation
346
M. Čvančarová et al.