The objective of this research was to model empirically the proteic effluent biodegradation by papains enzymes from Carica papaya sp. in an agitated bioreactor, to facilitate the optimization process by response surface methodology (RSM) and to apply in treatment of effluents from meat processing industries. The analysis of biodegradation curves showed that bioreactors residence time is between 28 and 30 h. Hiper plane empirical model was the one that best fitted to biodegradation data under the influence factors (pH and temperature) and the optimized operation zone for the protein biodegradation by papains was the one that presented the high temperature and low pH values.
empirical modeling; Carica papaya enzymes; biodegradation
