Degradation of Azo Dyes Using Mycoremediation

Author(s): G.D. Tandon*, D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth and D. Y. Patil

Abstract: Environmental pollution from human activities is a major challenge for civilization today. Synthetic dyes such as azo dyes are hazardous and toxic for humans, animals as well as aquatic life at the concentration at which they are being discharged in natural waters. Microbial degradation of dyes has received much attention for treating industrial wastewater containing dyes in an environment friendly way. Among biological treatment, a potential method is the fungal bioremediation. Current study aims to investigate the potential of certain fungi for decolourization of textile dyes. In the present study, the bio-chemical and morphological characterization of fungal species was done according to the conventional methods. The fungal isolates used were Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium purpurogenum, Acremonium strictum and Fusarium moniliforme. The decolourization of selected azo dyes viz. Acid Orange 7, Acid Violet 49, Basic Blue 3 and Basic Yellow 3 was carried out using these fungal isolates at different time intervals under different conditions of pH and temperature. The isolated fungi showed varied degrees of decolourization with different dyes. During the decolourization process the bio-sorption by fungal mycelia played the major role compared to the enzymatic degradation of the dyes. The maximum adsorption was observed in Basic Blue 3 by Penicillium purpurogenum, which adsorbed 96% of the dye.

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