Abstract

The present paper focuses on the use of fungus, Pleurotus ostreatus, to decolorize and degrade azo dye, Synazol Red HF6BN. Decolorization study showed that P. ostreatus was able to decolorize 96% Synazol Red HF6BN in 24 days. It was also found that 94% Synazol Red HF6BN containing dye effluent was decolorized by P. ostreatus after 30 days of incubation at room temperature. The enzyme exhibited highest activity at 70°C and at pH 6.0. The enzyme activity was enhanced in the presence of metal cations. High performance liquid chromatography analysis confirmed that this fungal strain is capable of degrading Synazol Red HF6BN dye into metabolites. The observation of no zones of inhibition on agar plates and growth of Vigna radiata in the presence of dye extracted sample indicated that the fungal degraded dye metabolites are nontoxic to beneficial micro-flora and plant growth. Therefore, P. ostreatus has promising potential in colour removal from textile wastewater containing azo dyes.

Key words:    Azo dyes, decolorization, Pleurotus ostreatus, bioremediation