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Degradation of 4 - nonylphenol, 4 - octylphenol and bisphenol-A by oxidative enzymes fungi

Grant number: 12/07389-8
Support Opportunities:Regular Research Grants
Duration: July 01, 2012 - December 31, 2014
Field of knowledge:Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Environmental Sanitation
Principal Investigator:Alexandre Nunes Ponezi
Grantee:Alexandre Nunes Ponezi
Host Institution: Centro Pluridisciplinar de Pesquisas Químicas, Biológicas e Agrícolas (CPQBA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Paulínia , SP, Brazil
Associated researchers: Adilson Sartoratto ; Ana Lúcia Tasca Gois Ruiz

Abstract

The contamination of fresh waters by Endocrine Disruptors is a growing concern in the scientific community due to the ability of these pollutants cause interference with the endocrine system of living beings, even at very low concentrations. Among the main Endocrine Disruptors (ED) described in the literature, bisphenol A and non-ionic surfactants Nonylphenol and Octylphenol are widely used in the composition of various toxic substances and are involved in potentially polluting industrial processes. The use of microorganisms capable of degrading or reduce EDs appears to be an advantageous to existing biotechnological tool. Fungus, known as degrading microorganisms, are noted for producing enzymes capable of oxidizing toxic chemicals. The study aims to select fungi capable of producing enzymes that promote oxidative degradation of 4 - Nonylphenol, 4 - Octylphenol and Bisphenol A, evaluating their effectiveness in reducing estrogenic activity, and promote the process of purification of the enzymes involved in treatment for a future application in the decontamination of fresh waters. In order to meet the proposed objectives, the implementation of this project is divided into four main steps, as follows: Selection of Microorganisms, treatment of ED, Evaluation of Enzyme Treatment and Purification. Tests of screening of microorganisms and treatment of DE will be held in conditions of orbital agitation and static, which will analyze the production of enzymes: Laccase, Manganese Peroxidase and Lignin Peroxidase. The estrogenic activity of the treated samples will be evaluated by means of tests YES (Yeast Estrogenic Screen) and Proliferation of Human Breast Cancer Cells (MCF 7 Cell Proliferation Assay of Estrogenic Activity) to then be subjected to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), comprising this step of treatment of ED. Purification and characterization of the enzyme extracts produced in the previous step occurs with the application of the dialyzed enzyme column cellulose anion exchange - DEAE. A test to prove the feasibility and applicability of biotechnological tool will be developed using the same concentrations of ED proposed in the study. Thus, we expect to achieve significant results in reducing and even removing the initial concentrations of contaminants, because in preliminary tests in solid medium, the fungi in the study had high adaptability in the presence of these contaminants. Where as the surface waters are sources of public water supply, this paper intends to provide information to an environmental clean-up solution. (AU)

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