N. MATHIYAZHAGAN, G. MANIKANDAN and D. NATARAJAN
Abstract
Textile effluents containing dyes, which are usually discharged into aquatic ecosystems with or without processing will pollute the environment. Improper disposal methods and inadequate control of toxic and effluents from different industries have made the water resources unfit for drinking or for other domestic purposes. The use of bioremediation technique is a less expensive and attractive alternate to physiochemical means of managing the ecosystems. Microorganisms found in the natural habitat constantly exposed to the dyes can be exploited to achieve biological decolourization. The decolourization of textile effluents and dyes (namely Direct Brilliant Violet and Direct Greenish Blue) were carried out using Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Trichoderma virie and Aspergillus niger. Decolourization percentage and dye bound to the mycelium were calculated by measuring the absorbance using Spectronic-20. The growth was measured by calculating the biomass. The known concentration of dyes (0.0025%) was observed to be effective in decolourization. The textile effluents was decolourized effectively when inoculated with pregrown mycelium of Aspergillus niger. The overall results highlight of three fungal isolates, the Aspergillus niger effectively decolourized 90% of dyes at a concentration of 0.0025%.