Insights into Increasing Selenate Reductase Enzyme Activity in the Presence of Nitrogen-Doped Graphite Electrodes for Selenium Effluent Treatment

The weathering of selenium-rich rocks or anthropogenic activities such as mining smelting can release selenium into the environment, posing a significant environmental risk. increased monitoring and enforcement regulations have resulted in protocols to efficiently measure treat water effluent water. principal aqueous forms inorganic are selenite (Se(IV)) selenate (Se(VI)). Selenate, due its oxy-anionic nature, high mobility, lack affinity conventional adsorbents, is typically more difficult remove. Thus, it proposed remove from by first reducing then insoluble elemental selenium, form that has low toxicity. A naturally occurring reductase enzyme Thauera selenatis was previously shown specifically reduce selenite. To exploit this functionality, recombinant technologies were used produce cell-free, enriched heterotrimeric complex (TsSer-αβγ). addition found successfully selenate. Interestingly, upon adding nitrogen-doped graphite electrodes reaction, selenate-reducing activity significantly increased. Overall, these findings highlight new, potentially sustainable solution reduction