Laccase-mediated oxidative degradation of the herbicide dymron

The present study reports the successful and effective degradation of the persistent herbicide dymron catalyzed by the oxidative enzyme laccase in the presence of a reaction mediator (a laccase/mediator system). Using 2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) as the mediator, over 90% of dymron was degraded within 24 h, while the half-life of dymron is 50 days in soil. The results suggested that oxidation of dymron resulted in the production of decomposed compounds with a single aromatic ring. We also found that edible surfactants and a dishwashing detergent were useful to solubilize dymron in an aqueous solution and did not inhibit the oxidative degradation. Degradation proceeded at acidic pH and in a broad range of temperatures (303-353 K). The use of natural mediators also allowed the oxidative degradation of dymron to some extent. In conclusion, we propose the possible use of a laccase/mediator system for the treatment of soils and drainwater contaminated with herbicides.