Removal of butylated hydroxyanisole with enzyme based polymerization using organo-clays

Abstract

3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxytoluene (BHT) and 2-tert-butyl-4-methoxyphenol (BHA) are used as antioxidants in food. However, considerable concern has arisen from experiments showing that BHA and BHT are potent enhancers of chemically- induced mutagenesis and carcinogenesis in laboratory animals. This work describes a method for the removal of buytlated hydroxyanisole (BHA) compound with an enzyme based polymerization onto organo-clay from aqueous solution. BHA bound organo-clay was prepared from horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-catalyzed polymerization reaction onto nanolayer of organosimectite. The approach described the enzyme catalyzed oxidation of BHA to quartamin modified smectite.