Influence of nZnO on Enzyme-mediated PAH-removal from Contaminated Soil

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are persistent and carcinogenic pollutants that can accumulate in the soil. In order to eliminate them, the implementation of enzyme-based bioremediation is a viable solution. Recently, there has been growing interest in nano-bioremediation, the combined use of enzymes and nanoparticles. In this study, we investigated the potential of nZnO at concentrations of 200 and 1000 mg/kg to enhance the efficiency of gentisate dioxygenase and catalase peroxidase enzymes for PAH degradation. Our results showed that nZnO doses had a positive effect on the degradation of PAHs by enzymes. The a-gentisate 1,2-dioxygenase with 200 mg/kg nZnO proved to be the most efficient for PAH removal, especially for naphthalene, as in this case it had 93.5% removal efficiency. Although the complex mechanisms behind the effects remain to be explored, our results indicate the synergistic potential of using nZnO and enzyme-based bioaugmentation in combination to achieve effective removal of specific PAH contaminants.