Volume 9, Issue 3 (September 2024)
J Environ Health Sustain Dev 2024, 9(3): 2301-2303 |
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Pormazar S M. Using Nanozymes in the Removal of Persistent Organic Pollutants from Water Environments. J Environ Health Sustain Dev 2024; 9 (3) :2301-2303
URL: http://jehsd.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-805-en.html
URL: http://jehsd.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-805-en.html
Environmental Science and Technology Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran & Student Research Committee, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
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Using Nanozymes in the Removal of Persistent Organic Pollutants from Water Environments
Seyedeh Mahtab Pormazar 1,2*
1 Environmental Science and Technology Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
2 Student Research Committee, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Seyedeh Mahtab Pormazar 1,2*
1 Environmental Science and Technology Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
2 Student Research Committee, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
| A R T I C L E I N F O | ||
| LETTER TO EDITOR | *Corresponding Author: Seyedeh Mahtab Pormazar Email: smp.mahtab@gmail.com Tel: +98 916 2522016 |
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Article History: Received: 18 May 2024 Accepted: 10 July 2024 |
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Citation: Pormazar SM. Using Nanozymes in the Removal of Persistent Organic Pollutants from Water Environments. J Environ Health Sustain Dev. 2024; 9(3): 2301-3.
Natural enzymes, with their distinct amino acid sequences, are large biocatalysts primarily composed of proteins. A few are made of catalytic nucleic acid molecules, playing a crucial role in metabolism and catabolism 1. These enzymes have unique characteristics and high efficiency in various aspects of human life, including clinical diagnosis, environmental monitoring, and pollution treatment 2, 3. However, natural enzymes have limitations such as performance in a narrow range of pH and temperature due to their high structural sensitivity, high cost, low stability and difficulty in storage 4, 5. In addition, research has been done on synthetic enzymes with the structure and function of enzyme mimics. However, the higher activity of synthetic enzymes cannot meet the needs of industrial applications 6.
Advances in technology have led to the development of nanobiotechnology, which combines material science and biology to create novel nanomaterials capable of mimicking the activity of enzymes 7. These nanomaterials, known as 'nanozymes', can catalyze reactions similar to natural enzymes in a physiologically relevant environment8, 9. However, their catalytic mechanism may differ from that of natural enzymes10. Nanozymes have significant advantages such as high stability, high catalytic activity, low cost, easy fabrication, greater reusability, and ease of modification11, 12. In addition, their unique nano-structural and physicochemical properties allow them to disperse effectively in aquatic systems and perform better in pollutant treatment. Furthermore, large-scale production can be cost-effective 3, 11.
One of the important aspects of this technology is that nanomaterials combine with a wide range of natural enzymes such as tyrosinases, glucose, proteins, spermine, phosphotriesterases, laccases, lignin peroxidase, soybean peroxidase, nitroreductases, reducing dehalogenases and quinone reductases in purifying pollutants 13-17. Laccases and peroxidases are enzymes widely used in biological wastewater treatment to reduce oxidation of emerging hazardous pollutants such as phenols, bisphenols, herbicides, pesticides, textile dyes, pharmaceutical compounds, and others 2, 18.
Studies show that some of these nanozymes are used to break down specific pollutants and some others are multi-purpose 19. Many nanozymes have both adsorption capacity and catalytic ability; however, they predominantly act as catalysts for degrading pollutants, with adsorption capacity serving as an auxiliary role in wastewater treatment6. Their catalytic mechanism involves converting several compounds through the oxidation of phenolic groups found in organic compounds. At the same time, they reduce molecular oxygen or hydrogen peroxide until it turns into water2. Additionally, some specially nanozymes have significant bactericidal activity 20. The degradation of persistent organic pollutants, such as phenolic compounds, pharmaceutical compounds, dyes, pesticides, and organic phosphorus compounds, has seen significant progress through the use of nanozymes with catalytic activity21-24. Studies have demonstrated that composite nanoenzymes containing Fe3O4MNPs on carbon materials or MOFs exhibit higher catalytic efficiency compared to metal/metal oxide-based nanozymes21. The rate of degradation of nanoenzymes is influenced by several factors, including the composition and structural characteristics of nanozymes and pollutant compounds, the presence of other substances, and environmental variables such as pH and temperature25.
Public concerns about environmental safety require the use of new and effective methods to reduce the toxicity of persistent pollutants. Nanozymes are a great solution to meet this need and improve the environment. Researchers are actively exploring and developing synthetic enzymes and nanozymes for environmental applications in water treatment. This would be highly relevant in treating complex contaminated media such as wastewater and leachates.
This is an Open-Access article distributed in accordance with the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon this work for commercial use.
References
Advances in technology have led to the development of nanobiotechnology, which combines material science and biology to create novel nanomaterials capable of mimicking the activity of enzymes 7. These nanomaterials, known as 'nanozymes', can catalyze reactions similar to natural enzymes in a physiologically relevant environment8, 9. However, their catalytic mechanism may differ from that of natural enzymes10. Nanozymes have significant advantages such as high stability, high catalytic activity, low cost, easy fabrication, greater reusability, and ease of modification11, 12. In addition, their unique nano-structural and physicochemical properties allow them to disperse effectively in aquatic systems and perform better in pollutant treatment. Furthermore, large-scale production can be cost-effective 3, 11.
One of the important aspects of this technology is that nanomaterials combine with a wide range of natural enzymes such as tyrosinases, glucose, proteins, spermine, phosphotriesterases, laccases, lignin peroxidase, soybean peroxidase, nitroreductases, reducing dehalogenases and quinone reductases in purifying pollutants 13-17. Laccases and peroxidases are enzymes widely used in biological wastewater treatment to reduce oxidation of emerging hazardous pollutants such as phenols, bisphenols, herbicides, pesticides, textile dyes, pharmaceutical compounds, and others 2, 18.
Studies show that some of these nanozymes are used to break down specific pollutants and some others are multi-purpose 19. Many nanozymes have both adsorption capacity and catalytic ability; however, they predominantly act as catalysts for degrading pollutants, with adsorption capacity serving as an auxiliary role in wastewater treatment6. Their catalytic mechanism involves converting several compounds through the oxidation of phenolic groups found in organic compounds. At the same time, they reduce molecular oxygen or hydrogen peroxide until it turns into water2. Additionally, some specially nanozymes have significant bactericidal activity 20. The degradation of persistent organic pollutants, such as phenolic compounds, pharmaceutical compounds, dyes, pesticides, and organic phosphorus compounds, has seen significant progress through the use of nanozymes with catalytic activity21-24. Studies have demonstrated that composite nanoenzymes containing Fe3O4MNPs on carbon materials or MOFs exhibit higher catalytic efficiency compared to metal/metal oxide-based nanozymes21. The rate of degradation of nanoenzymes is influenced by several factors, including the composition and structural characteristics of nanozymes and pollutant compounds, the presence of other substances, and environmental variables such as pH and temperature25.
Public concerns about environmental safety require the use of new and effective methods to reduce the toxicity of persistent pollutants. Nanozymes are a great solution to meet this need and improve the environment. Researchers are actively exploring and developing synthetic enzymes and nanozymes for environmental applications in water treatment. This would be highly relevant in treating complex contaminated media such as wastewater and leachates.
This is an Open-Access article distributed in accordance with the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon this work for commercial use.
References
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Type of Study: Letters to editor |
Subject:
Water quality and wastewater treatment and reuse
Received: 2024/05/18 | Accepted: 2024/07/10 | Published: 2024/10/1
Received: 2024/05/18 | Accepted: 2024/07/10 | Published: 2024/10/1
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