Biodegradation perspectives of azo dyes by yeasts

Azo dyes are the largest class of synthetic dyes, which are widely used in the textile industry. The amount of dyestuff does not bind to the fibers and is lost in wastewater during textile processing. The discharge of colored effluents into the environment is not only aesthetically unpleasing. Moreover, dyes and their break-down products cause toxic effects and they affect photosynthetic activity of aquatic systems by reducing light penetration. A number of microorganisms belonging to different taxonomic groups of bacteria, algae, fungi and yeast have been reported for their ability to decolorize azo dyes. In the literature the ability to decolorize azo dyes by yeasts, compared to bacterial and fungal species, has been studied in a few reports. Within this review, an attempt is made to elucidate some basic biological aspects associated with the azo dye degradation by yeasts and enzymes involved that are responsible for degradation process.     

微生物对偶氮染料的脱色及其基因工程研究进展

偶氮染料广泛应用在纺织印染、造纸印刷等行业中。染料废水的排放将会导致严重的环境污染,使用微生物处理染料废水是解决此问题的有效方法。该文概述了微生物对偶氮染料的脱色的研究,包括细菌对偶氮染料的脱色,真菌对偶氮染料的脱色,脱色产生的芳香胺并进一步被降解,以及基因工程技术在微生物对偶氮染料脱色的研究进展。     

含氟有机废水处理过程活性污泥微生物群落研究进展

随着有机氟化物在各领域的广泛应用,含氟有机废水处理面临巨大挑战。活性污泥作为有机废水处理的核心技术之一,微生物在其中发挥着极其重要的作用。本综述首先聚焦在活性污泥微生物群落多样性、组成、结构和功能及其与含氟废水类型、处理工艺和处理效率之间的关系,进而讨论了功能微生物降解/转化有机氟化物的途径和作用机制,最后展望了结合分离培养降解有机氟化物的关键微生物,以及微生物组学技术解析活性污泥微生物群落构建、互作、代谢等核心问题,以提高对含氟有机废水微生物降解机理的认识,优化含氟有机废水处理工艺。     

Significance of exploiting non-living biomaterials for the biosorption of wastewater pollutants

Industrial effluents from various sectors have become a matter of major environmental concern. The treatment of wastewater in recent year plays a significant role in order to remove the pollutants and to safeguard the water resource. The conventional wastewater treatment is considered costlier and associated with problem of sludge generation. Biosorption methods are considered as the potential solution due to their economical efficiency, good adsorption capacity and eco-friendliness. In this review, an extensive list of biosorbents from algae, bacteria, fungi and agricultural byproducts have been compiled. The suitability of biosorbents towards the eradication of heavy metals, textile dyes and phenolic compounds were highlighted. It is evident from the literature survey of recently published research articles that the biosorbents have demonstrated outstanding removal potential towards the wastewater pollutants. Therefore, biosorbents from the source of dead microbial and agricultural byproduct can be viable alternatives to activated carbon for the wastewater treatment.     

Microbial decolorization and degradation of synthetic dyes: a review

The synthesis of dyes and pigments used in textiles and other industries generate the hazardous wastes. A dye is used to impart color to materials of which it becomes an integral part. The waste generated during the process and operation of the dyes commonly found to contain the inorganic and organic contaminant leading to the hazard to ecosystem and biodiversity causing impact on the environment. The amount of azo dyes concentration present in wastewater varied from lower to higher concentration that lead to color dye effluent causing toxicity to biological ecosystem. The physico-chemical treatment does not remove the color and dye compound concentration. The decolorization of the dye takes place either by adsorption on the microbial biomass or biodegradation by the cells. Bioremediation takes place by anaerobic and/or aerobic process. The anaerobic process converts dye in toxic amino compounds which on further treatment with aerobic reaction convert the intermediate into CO₂ biomass and inorganics. In the present review the decolorization and degradation of azo dyes by fungi, algae, yeast and bacteria have been cited along with the anaerobic to aerobic treatment processes. The factors affecting decolorization and biodegradation of azo dye compounds such as pH, temperature, dye concentration, effects of CO₂ and Nitrogen, agitation, effect of dye structure, electron donor and enzymes involved in microbial decolorization of azo dyes have been discussed. This paper will have the application for the decolorization and degradation of azo dye compound into environmental friendly compounds.     

Reduction of azo dyes by anaerobic bacteria: microbiological and biochemical aspects

Azo dyes are recalcitrant pollutants commonly found in several industrial wastewaters, such as those originated from textile factories, which generally persist to biological transformation. Discharge of these effluents in open water bodies not only represents an aesthetic problem, but also may limit photosynthesis in aquatic plants. Furthermore, many azo dyes and products derived from their partial transformation in the environment (e.g. aromatic amines) may be toxic or carcinogenic. Biological wastewater treatment processes have emerged as promising technologies to remove azo dyes from industrial effluents and intensive research has been conducted during the last two decades in order to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the reductive decolourisation of azo dyes. The present work describes the main biochemical and microbiological aspects involved in the reductive decolourisation of azo dyes by anaerobic bacteria.     

Bacterial decolorization and degradation of azo dyes

Azo compounds constitute the largest and the most diverse group of synthetic dyes and are widely used in a number of industries such as textile, food, cosmetics and paper printing. They are generally recalcitrant to biodegradation due to their xenobiotic nature. However microorganisms, being highly versatile, have developed enzyme systems for the decolorization and mineralization of azo dyes under certain environmental conditions. Several genera of Basidomycetes have been shown to mineralize azo dyes. Reductive cleavage of azo bond, leading to the formation of aromatic amines, is the initial reaction during the bacterial metabolism of azo dyes. Anaerobic/anoxic azo dye decolorization by several mixed and pure bacterial cultures have been reported. Under these conditions, this reaction is non-specific with respect to organisms as well as dyes. Various mechanisms, which include enzymatic as well as low molecular weight redox mediators, have been proposed for this non-specific reductive cleavage. Only few aerobic bacterial strains that can utilize azo dyes as growth substrates have been isolated. These organisms generally have a narrow substrate range. Degradation of aromatic amines depends on their chemical structure and the conditions. It is now known that simple aromatic amines can be mineralized under methanogenic conditions. Sulfonated aromatic amines, on the other hand, are resistant and require specialized aerobic microbial consortia for their mineralization. This review is focused on the bacterial decolorization of azo dyes and mineralization of aromatic amines, as well as the application of these processes for the treatment of azo-dye-containing wastewaters.     

Microbial decolourisation and degradation of textile dyes

Dyes and dyestuffs find use in a wide range of industries but are of primary importance to textile manufacturing. Wastewater from the textile industry can contain a variety of polluting substances including dyes. Increasingly, environmental legislation is being imposed to control the release of dyes, in particular azo-based compounds, into the environment. The ability of microorganisms to decolourise and metabolise dyes has long been known, and the use of bioremediation based technologies for treating textile wastewater has attracted interest. Within this review, we investigate the mechanisms by which diverse categories of microorganisms, such as the white-rot fungi and anaerobic bacterial consortia, bring about the degradation of dyestuffs.     

Root mass distribution patterns under standardised conditions in species of Chionochloa and Festuca from New Zealand

The vertical biomass allocation patterns of roots grown under standardised conditions were determined for species representing the major New Zealand indigenous grass genera Chionochloa and Festuca. Ten ramets, each of 2–3 tillers from garden collections of each species were grown in irrigated vertical sand columns in a glasshouse, and harvested after 168 days. Chionochloa teretifolia, Chionochloa macra, and Chionochloa crassiusucula, characteristic of alpine environments failed to produce new roots and died. However, most of the Chionochloa taxa (Chionochloa beddiei, Chionochloa pallens, Chionochloa rigida ssp. rigida, Chionochloa rubra ssp. cuprea, Chionochloa vireta), developed extensive new roots that reached the base of the one metre sand column. Roots of Chionochloa cheesemanii and Chionochloa conspicua reached 80–90 cm depth. Two Festuca taxa (Festuca actae, Festuca luciarum) had roots to 1 m depth, and roots of Festuca coxii, Festuca matthewsii ssp. latifundii, Festuca matthewsii ssp. matthewsii, Festuca multinodis, and Festuca novae-zelandiae grew to 70–90 cm depth. The edaphic specialists (Festuca deflexa, Chionochloa spiralis, Chionochloa defracta) were all shallow rooting.Species of Festuca maintained at least 40% of the root mass in the upper 10 cm of the column and most of the Chionochloa taxa had less than 40% of root mass in the upper zone. Genotype level variation in root mass less than 10 cm deep was greater in Chionochloa than in Festuca, and least in the edaphic specialist grasses.     

Stock dynamics of Cleisthenes herzensteini in the central and southern Yellow Sea

Anthropogenic activities and environmental changes have had a significant effect on the fishery ecosystem, biological characteristics, and population dynamics of marine fishes. Overfishing threatens the sustainability of many populations. We evaluated changes in the biological characteristics, distribution, and abundance of Cleisthenes herzensteini using bottom trawl survey data collected from 1985 to 2010 in the central and southern Yellow Sea. The dominant body length of C. herzensteini during spring was 80–160 mm in 1986, 60–160 mm in 1998, and 41–80 mm and 111–170 mm in 2010. During summer, the dominant body length was 80–180 mm and 130–169 mm in 2000 and 2007, respectively. During autumn, the dominant body length was 60–160 mm, 100–180 mm, and 90–149 mm in 1985, 2000, and 2009, respectively. During winter, the dominant body length was 80–200 mm, 120–220 mm, and 100–200 mm in 1985, 1999, and 2010, respectively. The dominant body length decreased gradually from 1985 to 2010 (excluding spring, 2010), illustrating the “miniaturization” of the C. herzensteini population. Growth was significantly different between male and female individuals, with male individuals forming a “smaller-size type”. The sex ratio of C. herzensteini was relatively stable during spring and summer, but significantly different during autumn and winter. The diet of C. herzensteini also changed significantly from 1985 to 2010. During 1985–1986, the diet consisted primarily of Crangon affinis, Eualus sinensis and Gammaridae species. C. affinis, Engraulis japonicus, and Ammodytes personatus were dominant during 1998–2000, whereas C. affinis was the dominant prey species during 2009–2010. Thus, there was a clear decrease in dietary diversity, with a shift to benthos shrimp, particularly C. affinis, which accounted for 82.58% of the total diet (by weight) in 2010. The gastric vacuous rate also decreased in every season and the gonad developmental stage changed with each season. The distribution of C. herzensteini shifted northward and offshore and became more concentrated. The average catch per haul of C. herzensteini decreased in spring and autumn. The average catch per haul ranged from 1.44 kg h^-1 to 0.14 kg h^-1 in spring and the percentage by weight ranged from 6.53% to 1.28%. The average catch per haul ranged from 3.03 kg h^-1 to 0.26 kg h^-1 in autumn and the percentage by weight ranged from 8.00% to 0.60%. The average catch per haul increased significantly during summer, ranging from 0.18 kg h^-1 to 0.58 kg h^-1, with a percentage by weight of 0.03–0.80%. The average catch per haul was relatively stable in winter (around 1.00 kg h^-1), but the percentage by weight gradually increased during 1985–2010. Taken together, our results suggested that the population structure, diet composition, and distribution of C. herzensteini had been altered during the last three decades. To address this, it is essential to initiate measures to conserve the C. herzensteini resource.     

Accelerated decolorization of structurally different azo dyes by newly isolated bacterial strains

Wastewater effluents from the textile and other dye-stuff industries contain significant amounts of synthetic dyes that require treatment to prevent groundwater contamination. In research aimed at biotechnology for treatment of azo dyes, this study examined 288 strains of azo-dye degrading bacteria to identify efficient strains and determine incubation times required for decolorization. Initial enrichment cultures were carried out using a mixture of four structurally different dyes (Acid Red 88, Reactive Black 5, Direct Red 81, and Disperse Orange 3) as the sole source of C and N to isolate the bacteria from soil, activated sludge, and natural asphalt. Six strains were selected for further study based on their prolific growth and ability to rapidly decolorize the dyes individually or in mixtures. Treatment times required by the most efficient strain, AS96 (Shewanella putrefaciens) were as short as 4 h for complete decolorization of 100 mg l⁻¹ of AR-88 and DR-81 dyes under static conditions, and 6 and 8 h, respectively, for complete decolorization of RB-5 and DO-3. To our knowledge, these bacterial strains are the most efficient azo-dye degrading bacteria that have been described and may have practical application for biological treatment of dye-polluted wastewater streams.     

Bioremediation concepts for treatment of dye containing wastewater: a review

Synthetic dyes are extensively used in wide range of industries amongst which textile processing industries are the major consumers. Large amounts of dyes are lost in wastewaters of these industries during dyeing and subsequent washing steps of textiles. These dyes are resistant to de gradation by conventional wastewater treatment plants and are released into environment untreated thus causing pollution of surface and ground waters in the areas of the world harboring such industries. Presence of color in wastewaters has become major environmental concern and stringent discharge standards are being enforced on release of colored wastewaters in environment. The seriousness of the problem is apparent from the magnitude of the research done in this field in last decade. Increasing number of microorganisms are being described for their ability to decolorize and degrade artificial dyes and novel bioremediation approaches for treatment dye bearing wastewaters are being worked out. In this review we have investigated potential microbial processes for developing feasible remediation technology to combat environmental pollution due to dye bearing wastewaters.     

Toxicity assessment and microbial degradation of azo dyes

Toxic effluents containing azo dyes are discharged from various industries and they adversely affect water resources, soil fertility, aquatic organisms and ecosystem integrity. They pose toxicity (lethal effect, genotoxicity, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity) to aquatic organisms (fish, algae, bacteria, etc.) as well as animals. They are not readily degradable under natural conditions and are typically not removed from waste water by conventional waste water treatment systems. Benzidine based dyes have long been recognized as a human urinary bladder carcinogen and tumorigenic in a variety of laboratory animals. Several microorganisms have been found to decolourize, transform and even to completely mineralize azo dyes. A mixed culture of two Pseudomonas strains efficiently degraded mixture of 3-chlorobenzoate (3-CBA) and phenol/cresols. Azoreductases of different microorganisms are useful for the development of biodegradation systems as they catalyze reductive cleavage of azo groups (-N=N-) under mild conditions. In this review, toxic impacts of dyeing factory effluents on plants, fishes, and environment, and plausible bioremediation strategies for removal of azo dyes have been discussed.     

偶氮染料的微生物脱色研究进展

微生物法是染料废水治理的重要方法。本文综述了特异性酶作用下好氧细菌和真菌对偶氮染料的脱色以及厌氧条件下氧化还原介质作为电子穿梭体时偶氮染料的非特异性还原过程。指出厌氧偶氮还原是偶氮染料还原的主要形式, 电子供体不同脱色效率不同。对目前生物法去除偶氮染料存在的问题进行了分析, 提出了相应的对策措施。     

Effectiveness of Rice Agricultural Waste,Microbes and Wetland Plants in the Removal of Reactive Black-5 Azo Dye in Microcosm Constructed Wetlands

Azo dyes are commonly generated as effluent pollutants by dye using industries, causing contamination of surface and ground water. Various strategies are employed to treat such wastewater; however, a multi-faceted treatment strategy could be more effective for complete removal of azo dyes from industrial effluent than any single treatment. In the present study, rice husk material was used as a substratum in two constructed wetlands (CWs) and augmented with microorganisms in the presence of wetland plants to effectively treat dye-polluted water. To evaluate the efficiency of each process the study was divided into three levels, i.e., adsorption of dye onto the substratum, phytoremediation within the CW and then bioremediation along with the previous two processes in the augmented CW. The adsorption process was helpful in removing 50% dye in presence of rice husk while 80% in presence of rice husk biocahr. Augmentation of microorganisms in CW systems has improved dye removal efficiency to 90%. Similarly presence of microorganisms enhanced removal of total nitrogen (68% 0 and Total phosphorus (75%). A significant improvement in plant growth was also observed by measuring plant height, number of leaves and leave area. These findings suggest the use of agricultural waste as part of a CW substratum can provide enhanced removal of textile dyes.     

Microbial decolorization of spentwash: a review

Spentwash is one of the most complex and cumbersome wastewater with very high BOD, COD and other organic and inorganic toxic constituents. It is dark brown colored and difficult to treat by normal biological process such as activated sludge or anaerobic lagooning. The color is due to the presence of melanoidins, caramels and other polymers. These compounds have anti oxidant properties which render them toxic to microorganisms. Spentwash disposal into the environment is hazardous and has a considerable pollution potential. It affects the aesthetic merit. Its decolorization by physical or chemical methods have been investigated and were found unsuitable. In the recent past, increasing attention has been directed towards utilizing microbial activity for decolorization of spentwash. This review reveals various groups of microorganisms which have potential in spentwash decolorization. The role of enzymes in decolorization and the microbial degradation of individual compounds imparting color to spentwash are also discussed.     

Dye removal by immobilised fungi

Dyes are widely used within the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, printing, textile and leather industries. This has resulted in the discharge of highly coloured effluents that affect water transparency and gas solubility in water bodies. Furthermore, they pose a problem because of their carcinogenicity and toxicity. Therefore, removal of such dyes before discharging them into natural water streams is essential. For this, appropriate treatment technologies are required. The treatment of recalcitrant and toxic dyes with traditional technologies is not always effective or may not be environmentally friendly. This has impelled the search for alternative technologies such as biodegradation with fungi. In particular, ligninolytic fungi and their non-specific oxidative enzymes have been reported to be responsible for the decolouration of different synthetic dyes. Thus, the use of such fungi is becoming a promising alternative to replace or complement the current technologies for dye removal. Processes using immobilised growing cells seem to be more promising than those with free cells, since the immobilisation allows using the microbial cells repeatedly and continuously. This paper reviews the application of fungal immobilisation to dye removal.     

Reactive black-5 azo dye treatment in suspended and attach growth sequencing batch bioreactor using different co-substrates

Treatment of textile wastewater is a big challenge because of diverse chemical composition, high chemical strength and color of the wastewater. In the present study, treatment of wastewater containing reactive black-5 azo dye was studied in anaerobic sequencing batch bioreactor (SBBR) using mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) from suspended and attach growth bioreactors. MLSS at concentration of 1000 mg/L and reactive black-5 azo dye at 100 mg/L were used. A culture (10⁸–10⁹ CFU/ml) of pre-isolated bacterial strains (Psychrobacter alimentarius KS23 and Staphylococcus equorum KS26)) capable of degrading azo dyes in mineral salt medium was used to accelerate the treatment process in bioreactor. Different combinations of sludge, culture and dye were used for treatment using different co-substrates. About 85% COD removal was achieved by consortium (MLSS + KS23 + KS26) after 24 h in attach growth bioreactor. Similarly, 92% color removal was observed with consortium in attach growth bioreactor compared to 85% color removal in suspended bioreactor. Addition of bacterial culture (20%, v/v) to the bioreactor could enhance the rate of color removal. This study suggests that biotreatment of wastewater containing textile dyes can be achieved more efficiently in the attach growth bioreactor using yeast extract as a co-substrate and MLSS augmented with dye-degrading bacterial strains.     

Azo-dye degradation in an anaerobic-aerobic treatment system operating on simulated textile effluent

 Decolorisation of azo dyes during biological effluent treatment can involve both adsorption to cell biomass and degradation by azo-bond reduction during anaerobic digestion. Degradation is expected to form aromatic amines, which may be toxic and recalcitrant to anaerobic treatment but degradable aerobically. Methods for the quantitative detection of substituted aromatic amines arising from azo-dye cleavage are complex. A simple qualitative method is suggested as a way in which to investigate whether decolorisation is actually due to degradation, and whether the amines generated are successfully removed by aerobic treatment. Samples from a combined anaerobic-aerobic system used for treating a simulated textile wastewater containing the reactive azo dye Procion Red H-E7B were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatoraphy/ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) methods. Anaerobic treatment gave significant decolorisation, and respiration-inhibition tests showed that the anaerobic effluent had an increased toxicity, suggesting azo-dye degradation. The HPLC method showed that more polar, UV-absorbing compounds had been generated. Aerobically, these compounds were removed or converted to highly polar compounds, as shown by HPLC analysis. Since the total organic nitrogen (TON) decreased aerobically as organic N-containing compounds were mineralised, aromatic amine degradation is suggested. Although only a simple qualitative HPLC method was used, colour removal, toxicity and TON removal all support its usefulness in analysing biotreatment of azo dyes. Received: 2 August 1999 / Accepted: 3 September 1999