Study on reactive dye decolourization by anaerobic bacteria

Abstract

Anaerobic Basal medium containing 1% starch as substrate was enriched with textile Reactive dyes viz. Reactive Red MF6BL, Blue-HER, Reactive violet (V5R) and Reactive Black-B, to study their decolourization by anaerobic bacteria present in rumen fluid. Decolourization study was carried out in roll tubes containing Anaerobic Basal medium supplemented with 50, 100, 250, 500, 600 mg/L of the respective dyes. The anaerobic consortium gave maximum decolourization of 98.58% (600 mg/L, Reactive Red MF6BL) 98.62% (600mg/L, Blue-HER), 91.5% (V5R, 100mg/L) and 96% (50 mg/L, Reactive Black-B). The degradation of the respective dyes was confirmed by HPTLC. The consortium consisted of three rod shaped, Gram positive, anaerobic bacteria. The sugar and amino acid utilization pattern of the isolates were studied.