Biocatalytic membrane reactor development for organophosphates degradation

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Environmental Science
• Biocatalysis

Background:

• Organophosphates (OPs) pose significant environmental and human health risks due to their high toxicity.
• Enzymatic degradation offers a promising bio-based strategy for OP detoxification, especially using enzymes from extremophiles.
• Enzyme instability in traditional batch systems limits their application, necessitating strategies for enhanced biocatalyst stability in continuous processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel continuous biocatalytic system for organophosphate detoxification.
• To enhance the stability and efficiency of the phosphotriesterase enzyme (SsoPox) for practical applications.
• To demonstrate the effectiveness of enzyme immobilization on polymeric membranes for pesticide hydrolysis.

Main Methods:

• A triple mutant of thermostable phosphotriesterase (SsoPox) from Sulfolobus solfataricus was engineered.
• The SsoPox enzyme was covalently immobilized onto hydrophilic polymeric membranes.
• A biocatalytic membrane reactor (BMR) was constructed and tested for paraoxon hydrolysis in water.

Main Results:

• The developed biocatalytic membrane reactor achieved approximately 90% degradation of paraoxon.
• The covalently immobilized enzyme exhibited remarkable long-term stability, maintaining activity for one year.
• In contrast, the enzyme in a conventional batch system lost its activity within a few months.

Conclusions:

• Continuous biocatalytic systems utilizing immobilized enzymes offer a superior strategy for organophosphate detoxification compared to batch systems.
• Covalent immobilization of the SsoPox enzyme on hydrophilic membranes provides a stable and efficient platform for pesticide hydrolysis.
• This approach holds significant potential for developing sustainable and robust methods for environmental remediation of organophosphate contaminants.