African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (4), pp. 424-429, 19 February 2007   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2007 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Decolorization of textile dyes and their effluents using white rot fungi

Sathiya moorthi, P.¹*, Periyar selvam, S.², Sasikalaveni, A.³ Murugesan, K.², and Kalaichelvan, P. T.²

¹ Dept. of Ind. Biotechnology, Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute, Dr.M.G.R.University, Chennai - 600 05, India.

²CAS in Botany, University of Madras, Chennai, – 600 025, India.

³Department of Microbiology Shrimathi Indira Gandhi College, Trichy, – 620 002, India.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: sathiya.india@gmail.com.

Accepted 5 October, 2006

Reactive dyes are important chemical pollutants from textile industries .The two species of white rot fungi were evaluated for their ability to decolorize Blue CA, Black B133, Corazol Violet SR. Trametes hirsuta and Pleurotus florida displayed the greatest extent of decolorization. Laccase is the ligneolytic enzyme from these fungi. The laccase activity was measured using both solid and aqueous state assays. The dye absorption ability of the mycelium was studied using appropriate medium containing dyes at the concentration of 75 mg/l. The effective decolorization of Blue CA and Corazol Violet SR dyes by both microorganisms were observed in the fifth day of incubation. Further decolorization activity was verified using various concentrations of dyes such as 25, 50 and 75 mg/l. Maximum decolorization was observed in Blue CA and Corazol Violet SR dyes. The effluent from the dye house was treated using both organisms with different concentration of glucose (1 and 2%). Effective decolourization was found to be more by the Pleurotus florida in 2% glucose.

Key words: Reactive dyes, dye house effluent, Pleurotus florida, Trametes hirsuta, laccase.