Efficient, cost-effective purification of soybean peroxidase for industrial applications

Pharmaceutical contamination of water systems poses direct threats to human health and the environment. Unfortunately, wastewater treatment plants are not always capable of sufficiently removing pharmaceutical contamination, particularly where drugs are disposed of in high concentrations – such as pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. When some residual drugs are released into the environment they can persist and disrupt important functions in humans and wildlife.
Soybean hulls are generally considered waste products in soy production; however, they contain an important compound which could be used to efficiently and effectively destroy numerous pharmaceuticals in wastewater. Using a cheap, efficient purification method of this compound (“soybean peroxidase”), we will test its ability to remove several key drugs that have been found to contaminate the environment. As new and stricter regulations require drug manufacturers to improve their water decontamination processes, this cheap and effective way of treating wastewater using soybean peroxidase may be viewed favorably by many pharmaceutical industries. Agricultural companies may also be interested in using this technology in decontaminating residual pesticides which are an increasing problem, particularly when considering agricultural runoff.

Faculty Supervisor:

Steven Whyard

Student:

Partner:

North Forge

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education; Management of companies and enterprises; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Manitoba

Program: