B. VISHNUKUMAR, R. RATHIKA, S. KAMALAKANNAN AND K.SHANTHI
Abstract
In this study, the bacterial consortium which is potent for the decolourization of reactive dye was isolated from Orathuppalayam dam sediment and used for decolourization of Reactive Red (RR) dye. Experimental variables such as initial dye concentration, pH, inoculum dose, incubation time, carbon and nitrogen sources were optimized to maximize the decolourization rate. Under optimized conditions, (100 mg/L initial dye concentration, pH 7, inoculum dose of 0.5%, sucrose (1%) and ammonium sulphate (0.1%)) 99% of decolourization was observed. The potential strains in the consortium were identified as Pseudochrobactrum sp., Alcaligenes sp. and Ochrobactrum sp. based on the partial 16S rDNA sequences. The finding confers possibility of using novel bacterial consortium for biological treatment of disreputable dyeing effluents.