Compounds and methods for generating oxygen free radicals used in general oxidation and reduction reactions

摘要

Composition and methods for carrying out a variety of oxidation reactions, reduction reactions, or both utilizing a free radical generating catalyst, a mediator, and a reductant are disclosed, The free radical generating catalyst is generally a peroxidase obtained from living organisms, such as white rot fungi. Suitable peroxidases include lignin peroxidase, horse radish peroxidase, and lactoperoxidase. Suitable mediators include veratryl alcohol, iodine, methoxybenzenes, Mn II, and ABTS. Suitable reductants include EDTA, oxalate, hydroquinones, quinones plus quinone reductase, and hydrogen peroxide. The free radical generating catalyst is generally activated in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and reacts with the mediator to form the free radical of the mediator, which is an oxidant. The free radical of the mediator in turn reacts with the reductant to form the free radical of the reductant, which is also a reductant. The free radical oxidants and reductants can react directly with targeted substrates to carry out either oxidation or reduction reactions, or they can further react in other intermediate reactions to form additional oxidants and reductants. Targeted substrates include, but are not limited to, toxic waste materials, particularly chlorinated hydrocarbons such as DDT, CCl4, TCDD, or PCBs.