Microbial Decolourisation of Rathiline Navy Blue Dye using Immobilized Fungal and Actinomycetal Biomass

Textile industry generates large quantities of dyes like azo dyes, direct dyes, reactive dyes, basic dyes, synthetic dyes which are very toxic and difficult to dispose. Many dyes are toxic, carcinogenic or prepared from known carcinogens such as benzidine or other aromatic compounds. Considering adverse effect of aniline dye and their product (present in textile effluent), decolourisation of aniline dye is essential before releasing it in environment. Immobilised fungal cells have several advantages over dispersed cells such as simple reuse of the biomass, easier liquid-solid separation and minimal clogging in continuous-flow systems. Cell immobilization lowers the apparent broth viscosity and makes the rheological features more favourable for oxygen supply and mass transfer. In present dye decolourisation process, we have used live biomass of two different fungi (Aspergillus terreus and one unknown fungus) and Actinomycete (Streptomyces). Live biomass of the two fungi and one actinomycetes gives maximum decolourisation of dye as compared to dead biomass. We have also assessed the effect of decolourised water on seed germination.