Novel laccases for synthetic dye pollution mitigation-screening, statistical optimization and molecular...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Microbiology
• Biotechnology
• Industrial Chemistry

Background:

• Chemical dye industry effluent causes significant environmental pollution and health risks.
• Conventional methods for dye pollution control are often insufficient for recalcitrant dyes.
• Microbial enzymes, particularly laccases from basidiomycetes, show potential for dye degradation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and screen white rot fungi for laccase production.
• To identify fungal strains capable of decolorizing synthetic dyes.
• To optimize laccase production for efficient dye degradation.

Main Methods:

• Isolation of fungal strains from soil and wood samples.
• Screening for ligninolytic activity using guaiacol and chemical dyes.
• Solid-state fermentation for laccase production.
• Optimization of laccase production using response surface methodology.

Main Results:

• A novel strain, Schizophyllum commune H4-8 (GCA_000143185), was identified as highly promising for synthetic dye decolorization.
• Four fungal isolates showed significant laccase activity under solid-state fermentation.
• Optimized conditions predicted maximum laccase activity of 4.7 IU/ml at pH 5.2, 32°C, 1.34% CuSO4, 1.57% yeast extract, and 6.6g wheat bran.

Conclusions:

• Schizophyllum commune H4-8 is a potent candidate for bioremediation of dye-contaminated effluents.
• Optimized solid-state fermentation enhances laccase production for industrial applications.
• Microbial laccase offers a sustainable alternative for degrading recalcitrant chemical dyes.