Laccase-Nanoparticle Conjugates for the Elimination of endocrine disrupting chemicals from wastewater in bioreactors.

The following NANOMAT project represents the Norwegian part of the MATERA project called LANCE. The overall objective of this project is to develop a new method for the elimination of very persistent xenobiotics, such as endocrine disrupting chemicals, du ring the wastewater treatment. The concept consists of the immobilisation of laccases on the surface of nanoparticles (NP). The treatment of contaminated wastwater occurs in a membreane bioreactor system. Elimination of hazardous chemicals during wastewat er treatment is an unresolved problem of developing countries as well as of those with modern industrial economi. As an alternative to existing solutions such as activated carbon adsorption, ozonation and photocatalysis, the outcome of this project will b e laccase-nanoparticle conjugates, that are compatible with wastewater treatment and can be synthesised in a cost effective and large-scale way, e.g. silica particles. These laccase-NP conjugates will be applied in bioreactors where the particles are reta ined. The use of such reactors will allow multicycle use of the enzyme-activated NP and this leads to low treatment price. The 2-year activity comprises the synthesis of various NP systems, the immobilization of selected low cost industrial laccases on th e latter (both with Norwegian partner involved), the development of analytical enzymatic and ecotoxicological tools to check the removal performances of the nanomaterial in the developed bioreactors and the technical and scientific proof of the depollutio n concept at lab-scale and semi-pilot scale on a wastewater treatment plant. Expected outcomes of the project are: 1. technical and commercial development of nanomaterials for biocatalysis finding application in wastewater treatment, 2. a basis for the fu rther development of a range of nanosized products possessing biocatalytic activity and 3. the development of bioreactors adapted to the use of the developed nanosized materials.