Evaluating effectiveness of laccase nanoparticles in biocatalytic decolorization of synthetic dyes

Industrial wastewater contamination caused by synthetic dyes poses significant environmental and health hazards due to the persistence and toxicity of the dyes. One traditional dye decolorization procedure include laccase treatment. Laccase being a phenol oxidase, can break down complex dye molecules by attacking the aromatic rings and other components, making them easier to remove or neutralize. To increase the efficiency of dye degradation, the current research work focuses onto the novel biosynthesis of enzyme nanoparticles of laccase extracted from Ganoderma lucidium MDU-7, as enzyme nanoparticles shows enhanced chemical, enzymatic and thermal properties. The synthesized Lac-NPs were thoroughly characterized by techniques including UV–visible spectrophotometer, Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy, Transmission electron microscopy, Zeta Potential analysis and Dynamic Light Scattering. TEM results confirmed nano-size of Lac-NPs ranging from 30 to 70 nm with an average diameter of 53 nm. The dye-decolorization efficiency of Lac-NPs was assessed and compared with free laccase on ten different dyes using spectrophotometry. The calculated results of decolorization percentage demonstrated that Lac-NPs had significantly higher decolorization efficiency across all dyes, achieving up to 99 % decolorization in 96 h for Bromothymol Blue, compared to 83.6 % by free laccase. The lowest decolorization rates, 46 % with Lac-NPs and 38 % with free laccase, were demonstrated for dye Sudan Black B. According to the results, Lac-NPs degraded more quickly than Laccase, which makes them a viable option for green wastewater treatment and environmental bioremediation. This study demonstrates how laccase nanoparticles can be used to provide environmentally benign, long-lasting solutions to reduce pollution caused by artificial dyes.