Degradation of various dyes using Laccase enzyme

Disposal of untreated dyeing effluent in water bodies, from textile industries, cause serious environmental and health hazards. The chemical structures of dye molecules are designed to resist fading on exposure to light or chemical attack, and they prove to be quite resistant towards microbial degradation. Therefore, current conventional biological processes may not be able to meet wastewater discharge criteria and reuse. An enzymatic treatment undergoes oxidative cleavage avoiding formation of toxic amines. Laccase is a multi-copper containing protein that catalyzes the oxidation of a wide range of aromatic substrates concomitantly with the reduction of molecular oxygen to water. UV visible spectral analysis of various synthetic dyes was performed in the study and wavelengths of maximum absorbance determined. Laccase enzyme was obtained from the fungi Pleorotus ostreatus. The enzyme showed high efficiency against Malachite Green, Basic Red and Acid Majanta with decolorization capacities of 97%, 94% and 94% respectively. Further, these dyes can be used for optimization of degradation parameters and analysis of degradation products.