Horseradish peroxidase for the removal of carcinogenic aromatic amines from water

A new method has been developed for the removal of carcinogenic aromatic amines from industrial aqueous effluents. It includes the treatment of aqueous solutions containing the carcinogens with horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide. Such treatment results in a nearly complete precipitation of carcinogenic aromatic amines from water due to enzymatic crosslinking. This method was used to remove ten recognized human carcinogens from water: benzidine and its derivatives, naphthylamines, 4-aminobiphenyl, and p-phenylazoaniline. The dependence of the removal efficiency of the peroxidase treatment on the concentrations of the enzyme, H2O2 and a carcinogen and also on pH and the duration of the treatment was studied. The enzymatic removal of carcinogens from water was confirmed by both chemical and toxicological assays.