Smart Extremozymes: The Next-Generation Biocatalysts for Sustainable Industrial Wastewater Management

DOI: 10.22161/ijeab.105.25

Abstract:
Industrial wastewater treatment face various challenges like high pollutant load, extreme environmental conditions and the need for cost-effective and eco-friendly solutions. These challenges could be sustainably managed using biocatalysts like enzymes. Although enzymes are sustainable approach towards this, but they often act futile due to the extreme conditions present in the wastewater. Extremozymes are specialized enzymes with the ability to function under extreme conditions and offer a promising approach to address these challenges. The types of extremozymes explored in this study include thermozymes, psychrozymes, halozymes, alkalozymes and acidozymes. Their mechanism of action enables the efficient breakdown of pollutants making them highly suitable for industrial applications. Extremozymes have proven effective in treating effluents from industries such as textiles, pulp and paper, pharmaceuticals and food. These enzymes provide high stability and efficiency in harsh wastewater environments. Moreover, these enzymes also offer advantages such as reduced operational costs and minimized environmental footprints. Recent advancements such as AI-driven enzyme design, synthetic biology and nano-immobilization strategies have further enhanced extremozyme performance which leads to the development of intelligent and reusable “bionanoextremozymes” capable of functioning efficiently under fluctuating industrial conditions. By leveraging extremozymes, industries can adopt a more sustainable and efficient approach to wastewater treatment. This review highlights their potential to revolutionize industrial effluent management, paving the way for sustainable, environmentally friendly and economically viable wastewater treatment solutions.

Keywords:
Biocatalyst, Extremozymes, Industry, Sustainability, Wastewater

Article Info:
Received: 12 Sep 2025; Received in revised form: 10 Oct 2025; Accepted: 16 Oct 2025; Available online: 25 Oct 2025

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