Laccases: A blue enzyme for greener alternative technologies in the detection and treatment of emerging pollutants

© Springer International Publishing AG 2017.The continuous contamination of worldwide water bodies, by the presence of emerging pollutants, has raised great importance over the last decades. This group of pollutants comprises a large variety of chemicals, comprehending household and personal care products, human and veterinary drugs, as well as industrial compounds. Although, scientific data have made evident the potential threats of the emerging pollutants to public and environmental health, there is still limited information available concerning the ecotoxicity, concentration, and distribution of these compounds, which makes their ecological regulation, detection, and treatment very difficult. Thus, the search for green technologies to detect and treat potential environmental pollutants is critical for ecological and human health protection. In this context, laccases have gained scientific interest due to their broad substrate range, including recalcitrant environmental pollutants, and their ability to use only oxygen as a co-substrate. This work explores the potential of laccase enzyme as element of biosensing and bioremediation, and identifies the drawbacks that have to be overcome in order to demonstrate their feasibility and implement a large-scale process.