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24
th
Biotechnology Congress: Research & Innovations
CRISPR Cas9 Technology and Genetic Engineering
Annual Congress on
October 24-25, 2018 | Boston, USA
Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials | ISSN: 2155-952X | Volume: 8
Ligninolytic enzymes and their possible role in future sustainable waste management of non-recyclable paper
Gabriela Kalcikova
and
Andreja Zgajnar Gotvajn
University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Statement of the Problem:
With the improvement of paper quality by various coating and additives the waste management
is facing many difficulties regarding recycling of this new type of waste. Particular problems cause laminated paper where
polyethylene is used as a coating. Recycling and/or recovery of plastic-coated paper are considerably difficult and unprofitable
and thus such waste is usually aimed to be disposed in a landfill or incinerated. The aim of our work was to develop an
environmentally friendly method for delamination of plastic-coated paper by extracellular ligninolytic enzymes of white rot
fungus
Dichomitus squalens
. Such enzymes as laccase (Lac) and manganese peroxidase (MnP) are involved in the degradation
of lignin and their natural lignocellulosic substrates and are even capable to degrade various pollutants.
Methodology &Theoretical Orientation:
Plastic-coated waste paper was obtained from a front and back page of an ordinary
journal and was degraded by enzyme filtrate obtained by
Dichomitus squalens
. Various ratios between the amount of plastic-coated
paper and enzyme filtrate were tested. The best results were applied to set up laboratory bioreactor.
Findings:
Enzymes were very efficient for delamination of plastic-coated paper. The paper part was partially dissolved and
partially stayed in bulk form while foils were free-floating. The efficient delamination proceeded already after one day of the
experiment, the final delamination efficiencies after 15 days were from 88.6% to 91.5%. An activity of Lac and MnP enzymes
reached up to 1000U/L and 300U/L, respectively and stayed active during the whole experiment. The treatment of plastic-coated
paper in a laboratory bioreactor was also very efficient reaching about 90% of treatment efficiency. Results showed, that
ligninolytic enzymes can be very effective for delamination of plastic coated paper and enzymatic treatment could become an
environmentally friendly alternative to current disposal option.
Biography
Gabriela Kalcikova has her expertise in waste management, landfill leachate treatment and using of white rot fungi in bioremediation. Her interest is to introduce new
biotechnological approaches for treatment of so-called non-recyclable and non-biodegradable waste. She has also particular specialization in plastic waste - microplastics
and their impact on the environment. She is an assistant professor and researcher at University of Ljubljana in Slovenia.
Gabriela.Kalcikova@fkkt.uni-lj.siGabriela Kalcikova et al., J Biotechnol Biomater 2018, Volume 8
DOI: 10.4172/2155-952X-C4-097