A low-cost wheat bran medium for biodegradation of the benzidine-based carcinogenic dye Trypan Blue using a microbial...

Area of Science:

• Environmental microbiology
• Biotechnology
• Chemical engineering

Background:

• Benzidine-based dyes, like Trypan Blue, pose significant environmental and health risks due to their carcinogenic nature.
• Effective and eco-friendly methods for textile dye degradation are crucial for mitigating pollution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enrich and characterize a microbial consortium for biodegrading Trypan Blue.
• To evaluate the efficacy of wheat bran as a low-cost growth medium for dye biodegradation.
• To assess the detoxification potential of the degradation products.

Main Methods:

• Enrichment of microbial consortium from contaminated soil.
• Biodegradation assays using Trypan Blue and wheat bran.
• Physicochemical analysis (TOC, COD) and enzymatic activity assays (azoreductase, laccase).
• Product identification using HPLC, FTIR, and GC-MS; toxicity assessments.

Main Results:

• Complete decolorization of 50 mg/L Trypan Blue within 24 hours by the enriched consortium.
• Significant reduction in TOC (64%) and COD (88%), indicating mineralization.
• Induction of key enzymes (azoreductase, laccase) and identification of degradation intermediates.
• Degradation products exhibited reduced toxicity.

Conclusions:

• The microbial consortium effectively biodegrades Trypan Blue, utilizing wheat bran as a cost-effective medium.
• The process leads to significant detoxification, with potential applications in wastewater treatment.
• This study highlights the use of agricultural waste for bioremediation of carcinogenic dyes.