An Enzymatic Method for Zinc Determination in Wastewater

Aims: In this study, an enzymatic zinc determination method was based on the regaining of the activity of apo carbonic anhydrase by the zinc is presented in the sample.
Study Design: This method determines the amount of zinc in the waste water of the environment can be used in order to find out how much contaminated. For this purpose, wastewater from seven different areas and three drinking waters in Erzurum were taken and zinc concentrations were determined.
Methodology: Carbonic anhydrase was purified by Sepharose-4B-L tyrosine sulphanilamid affinity chromatography from bovine erythrocytes. The zinc in this structure was removed by dialysis against dipicolinic acid resulting in apo carbonic anhydrase obtained at a ratio of 100%. The activity of the enzyme was determined by the esterase activity on p-nitrophenyl acetate. For comparison purposes, the same samples were analyzed in an atomic absorption (AAS).
Results: When we compared the results of the AA and the enzymatic method, we observed there is a good correlation between the two methods.
Conclusion: The enzymatic method can be used for determination of zinc in wastewater.