Melanoidin degradation and electric energy production from palm oil waste using immobilized laccase-producing bacteria

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Wasan Palasai
Kronsirinut Rothjanawan
Alisa Kongthong
Rachchanon Yodrach
Junjira Thipraksa
Pimprapa Chaijak

Abstract

Melanoidin is a high molecular weight pigment that is problematic in agricultural wastewaters like palm oil mill effluent (POME). This study presents a novel approach combining a laccase-producing bacterial consortium primarily Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, immobilized on hydrothermally modified granular activated carbon (GAC) for efficient melanoidin degradation and simultaneous electricity generation in a microbial fuel cell (MFC). The hydrothermal modification of GAC enhanced bacterial immobilization and electron transfer, contributing to improved biodegradation performance. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified a number of key degradation metabolites including silanediol, dimethyl; (1-methylethyl)benzene; limonene; and butylated hydroxytoluene, confirming an effective melanoidin breakdown. The system achieved 81.36 ± 1.07% melanoidin removal with electrochemical characterization that showed a maximum current density of 61.50 ± 1.98 mA/m² and power density of 1.51 ± 0.10 mW/m². These findings demonstrated the synergistic effect of hydrothermally modified GAC and the selected bacterial consortium offering a sustainable and innovative strategy for treating melanoidin-rich wastewater while recovering bioenergy.

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Palasai, W., Rothjanawan, K., Kongthong, A., Yodrach, R., Thipraksa, J., & Chaijak, P. (2025). Melanoidin degradation and electric energy production from palm oil waste using immobilized laccase-producing bacteria. Communications in Science and Technology, 10(1), 218-225. https://doi.org/10.21924/cst.10.1.2025.1700
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