Biodegradation of disperse dye brown 3REL by microbial consortium of Galactomyces geotrichum MTCC 1360 and Bacillus sp. VUS

The consortium-GB (Galactomyces geotrichum MTCC 1360 and Bacillus sp. VUS) exhibited 100% decolorization ability with the dye Brown 3REL within 2 h at shaking condition with optima of pH 7 and at 50°C. However, G. geotrichum MTCC 1360 showed 39% decolorization within 24 h and Bacillus sp. VUS took 5 h for 100% decolorization, when incubated individually. Additional carbon and nitrogen sources like, starch, peptone, and urea were found to enhance decolorization. Induction in lignin peroxidase, tyrosinase, and riboflavin reductase was observed in consortium as that of individual organisms. GCMS identification showed different metabolites formed using consortium (2-(6,8-dichloro-quinazolin-4yloxy)-acetyl-urea and 2-(6,8-dichloro-quinazolin-4yloxy)-acetyl-formamide) and Bacillus sp. VUS (6,8-dichloro-4 methoxy-quinazoline) after 2 h of incubation with Brown 3REL. G. geotrichum MTCC 1360 showed minor modifications in structure of Brown 3REL. Phytotoxicity revealed non toxic nature of metabolites. This consortium-GB was also able to decolorize various industrial dyes.