Decolorization of anthraquinone dye with immobilized Penicillium jensenii

Cells of Penicillium jensenii were immobilized by entrapment in natural and synthetic polymeric matrices. The decolorization of Reactive Brilliant Blue KN-R by immobilized cells has been studied. It was found that CA-immobilized cells could effectively decolorize reactive brilliant blue KN-R. Many factors affecting the decolorization process were studied, including: pH, temperature, dye concentration, shaker speed and culture time. The reusability of the immobilized cells was evaluated with repeated-batch decolorization experiments. The optimum pH, temperature, shaker speed and culture time of decolorization with CA-, CGN-, and PAA- immobilized cells are 4.0 and 30 degrees C and 150r/min and 48hr respectively, dye concentration could have some effects on decolorization. After four repeated experiments, the decolorization rate of CA-, CGN-, and PAA- immobilized cells could still remain 73.6%, 60.8%, 50.5%, respectively.