Wastewater Benzenediol Removal Catalyzed by Crude Arugula Peroxidase

This study explores the potential of arugula (Eruca sativa) as a novel source of peroxidase enzymes for the bioremediation of wastewater containing benzenediol (BZOL) pollutants. The peroxidase was extracted and partially purified from arugula leaves, and its catalytic efficacy was evaluated in the enzymatic degradation of two representative BZOL compounds, resorcinol and catechol. Crude arugula peroxidase (AP) demonstrated significant activity under mild reaction conditions, with optimal pH values identified as 6.1 for resorcinol and 5.7 for catechol removal. Remarkably, near-complete elimination (up to 95%) of both compounds was achieved using minimal reagent concentrations: 0.15% hydrogen peroxide and 0.072 U·mL⁻¹ enzyme activity over a 3-hour reaction period. Kinetic analyses revealed that the degradation process adhered to pseudo-first-order kinetics, with catechol exhibiting a faster reaction rate compared to resorcinol. These results underscore the efficiency and eco-compatibility of arugula-derived peroxidase as a low-cost, plant-based catalyst for the treatment of aromatic pollutants in wastewater. The findings hold promise for scalable, sustainable bioremediation strategies in environmental engineering.