Catalase enzyme: Application in bioremediation and food industry

Abstract The enzyme catalase is known to catalyse the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water. Hydrogen peroxide metabolism is mainly regulated by this enzyme. Catalase is a common enzyme found in nearly all living organisms. It has one of the highest turnovers of all enzymes as it has the capacity to decompose more than one million molecules of hydrogen peroxide, per molecule of enzyme. Catalase has been used as an important enzyme in many biotechnological areas including bioremediation. This paper gives a review of its use and application in the field of bioremediation as an indicator of hydrocarbon degradation in soil (an important aspect in bioremediation of crude oil pollution), as a provider of oxygen in aerobic bioremediation process and in the removal of H2O2 from bleaching industry effluent and also its potential use in the food industry.