Iranian Scientists Use Enzyme Nanoparticles to Deoxygenate Water Fed to Steam Boilers

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian researchers at the University of Tabriz presented an environmentally-friendly and cost-effective method for the removal of oxygen from the water fed to steam boilers by using enzyme nanoparticles.
"There are two physical and chemical methods for oxygen removal from the water fed to steam boilers," Afzal Karimi, member of the Scientific Board of University of Tabriz, said.

"Since the safety of the user, the product in contact with the vapor and the environmental pollution have become highly important issues in the modern world, all industries try to reduce the environmental pollution."

Karimi continued, "Many industries use hydrazine that is highly toxic and has a high range of operation temperature. In this project, we produced nanoparticles containing an enzyme that is compatible with the environment and the user. I draw your attention to the fact that the removal of dissolved oxygen by using enzyme does not have any disadvantages of the chemical compounds, to the extent that no solid particle is formed at lower temperatures and at an appropriate reaction rate."

Elaborating on the details of the research, he said, "Glucose adsorbs the oxygen dissolved in water through an enzyme oxidation, and produces gluconate and hydrogen peroxide. In this research, glucose oxidase was stabilized on a bed of manganese dioxide nanopore in order to increase the load and performance of the enzyme in continuous processes. In addition to providing an appropriate bed for enzyme stabilization, this base acts as a catalyst for hydrogen peroxide decomposition and it completes the deoxygenation chain."

According to the researcher, this plan is successful since it is environmentally-friendly and safe, and it can economically compete with the similar chemical methods.