[Decolorization of azo dyes using quinone reductase and quinoid compounds]

Using quinoid redox mediator and bacterial cellular quinone reductase, we investigated the decolorization ability of gene-engineered strain Escherichia coli YB and the effects of methylhydroquinone (MHQ) pretreatement on decolorization performance of E. coli JM109 and anaerobic sludge. The results indicate that lawsone is an effective accelerator for azo dye decolorization by E. coli YB overexpressing cellular quinone reductase AZR. In the presence of 0.2 mmol x L(-1) lawsone, 75% Amaranth (1 mmol x L(-1)) can be decolorized in 2 h. E. coli YB can also decolorize high concentration of azo dye in the presence of lawsone. Around 50% Amaranth (5 mmol x L(-1)) is decolorized in 8 h. Compared to lawsone, menadione is a less effective mediator. E. coli YB takes 12 h to reach 70% decolorization in the presence of 2.5 mmol x L(-1) menadione. Repeated decolorization studies showed that E. coli YB had stable decolorizing ability in the presence of lawsone. Four rounds of repeated decolorization can be completed in 12 h. Lawsone can also accelerate the decolorization of azo dyes with complex structures such as Acid Scarlet GR and Reactive Brilliant Red K-2BP. With the optimal LQ concentrations, 70% Acid Scarlet GR and Reactive Brilliant Red K-2BP are decolorized in 9 h and 30 h,respectively. Decolorization performances of E. coli JM109 and anaerobic sludge pretreated with MHQ are improved. After MHQ pretreatment,in the presence of lawsone, 80% Amaranth (1 mmol x L(-1)) can be decolorized in 5 h by E. coli JM109, while more than 75% Amaranth can be removed in 11 h by sludge.