Journal of Ecology and Rural Environment ›› 2020, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (7): 842-853.doi: 10.19741/j.issn.1673-4831.2019.0420

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A Review on Enzymatic Degradation and Its Regulation Mechanisms for Organic Wastes

ZHANG Yong1,2, CHEN Ji3,4, ZHANG Feng1   

  1. 1. College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China;
    2. School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China;
    3. Aarhus University Centre for Circular Bioeconomy, Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, 8830 Tjele, Denmark;
    4. Center for Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
  • Received:2019-06-04 Online:2020-07-25 Published:2020-07-18

Abstract: There is a growing interest on environmental pollution and loss of resources due to improper disposal of organic wastes. Biodegradation is one of the most effective methods for organic wastes recycle. Enzymes catalyze the rate-limiting steps in biodegradation and their activities are useful and effective proximate agents for the transformation and decomposition of organic wastes. Some earlier reviews have synthesized the microbial functions in biodegradation, yet enzymatic degradation and its regulation mechanisms for organic wastes are poorly known. The roles of enzymes on catalyzing biodegradation of organic matter, accelerating synthesis of humus and reducing toxicity of pollutants are summarized. Further, the regulation mechanisms of enzymatic degradation were explicitly explored including microorganisms, enzyme immobilization, physicochemical factors and additives. Enzymes are highly efficient, environmentally friendly and controllable, which play crucial roles for biodegradation of organic wastes. Finally, the need for further studies are highlighted, such as studies on (ⅰ)pathways and molecular mechanisms of enzymatic degradation, (ⅱ)metabolism of microorganism-enzyme-waste system, (ⅲ)regulation of enzymatic degradation by activators, (ⅳ)enzyme immobilization and (ⅴ)production and application of degrading enzymes. Those efforts are conducive to promote sustainable utilization of organic wastes.

Key words: organic waste, enzymatic degradation, regulation mechanism, enzyme immobilization, activator

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