Textile azo dyes discolouration using spent mushroom substrate: enzymatic degradation and adsorption mechanisms

This study evaluated the adsorption and enzymatic degradation of azo dyes when using SMS. The laccase present in the SMS was characterised, and the maximum activity was obtained at pH 2, a temperature of 45°C, a Michaelis–Menten constant (Km) of 0.264 mM, and a maximum reaction rate (Vmax) of 117.95 µmol L−1 min−1. The presence of NaCl at 5 mM inhibited enzyme activity while no inhibition was observed by Na2SO4, typically found in textile wastewater. The maximum dye adsorption (57.22%) was achieved at pH 8.0, 25°C, and 100 g L−1 of SMS while the maximum enzymatic degradation (14.18%) was obtained under the same conditions, except at pH 4.0. The enzymes laccase, lignin peroxidase, and manganese peroxidase trapped in the SMS resulted in higher dye discolouration when compared to that extracted with aqueous solution, meaning that SMS has strong adsorption capacity and is a natural immobilisation matrix, which improves the enzymatic degradation of the dyes. Thus, SMS can be used in the treatment of textile effluents for dye removal by simultaneous mechanisms of adsorption and enzymatic degradation, with reduction of environmental impacts for SMS disposal and reduction of the costs associated with commercial enzymes and adsorbents.