Application of free and immobilized laccase for removal and detoxification of fluoroquinolones from aqueous solution

Laccase from Trametes versicolor was immobilized by covalent bonds formation on CPC silica carriers. Elimination of two floroqinolone (FQ); enrofloxacine (ENR) and flumequine (FLU) using laccase in both free and immobilized form in the absence and presence of 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HBT) and 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA) as mediators was investigated. Temperature, pH and storage stability of immobilized laccase was significantly improved compare to free laccase. In the absence of a laccase mediator, the initial concentrations of 50 mg L–1 of ENR and FLU decreased by 19 % and 28 %, respectively, after 6 h treatment using the immobilized laccase, while, the removal percentages were increased to 98 % and 96 %, respectively, when the immobilized laccase was used in presence of HBT. Whereas, the removal percentages of ENR and FLU were increased to 97 % and 88 %, respectively, when the immobilized laccase was used in presence of HBA. After twenty runs of the enzymatic elimination (laccase-HBT system) of ENR and FLU, the immobilized laccase exhibited the relative removal of 17.63 % and 15.62 %, respectively. The results of microtoxicity test (growth inhabitation percentage of six bacterial strains) showed a significant decrease in toxicity of the laccase-treated ENR and FLU solution.