Microbial decolorization of synthetic dyes and reactive dyes of industrial effluents by using a novel fungus Aspergillus proliferans

A decolorizing fungal strain was isolated and identified by the morphology and genotypic characterization as Aspergillus proliferans. The effect of A. proliferans on decolorization of synthetic dyes (70 mg ml(-1)) and colored effluent was evaluated in liquid culture medium. A. proliferans expressed their effective decolorization activity in effectual decolorization of synthetic dyes and industrial effluent. Synthetic dyes were decolorized by 76 to 89% within 6 days of treatment and 73.5% of color was removed in industrial effluent within 8 days. The addition of optimum carbon and nitrogen sources were effectively stimulated the decolorization activity. The high concentration of glucose repressed the decolorization activity and supplementation of yeast extract has significantly enhanced the effluent decolorization at p < 0.05. Laccase enzyme was isolated from liquid state fermentation, which showed significant enzyme activity (10,200 Uml(-1)) at p < 0.005. The crude enzyme decolorizes the dyes aniline blue and congo red in 14 hours (40.9 to 70%) and the effluent in 14 hours (88.6%). Moreover, the culture free supernatant without the fungal biomass has also effectively decolorized the effluent and synthetic dyes. The fungi Aspergillus proliferans was used not only for decolorization but also for better bioremediation of industrial effluent.     

Physico-chemical and microbial characteristics of the coral reef environment of the Gulf of Mannar marine biosphere reserve, India

Investigation on physico-chemical parameters and bacteial characteristics of the coral reef environs of the Gulf of Mannar biosphere reserve was studied. The study found the influence of different physico-chemical parameters on one another and also on the distribution of the total heterotrophic bacteria (THB) in the coral reef areas. Nutrients exhibited considerable seasonal and spatial variations with influence on the bacterial population. Coral reef areas recorded higher bacterial population density both in water (3.5 to 18 x 10(5) CFU ml(-1)) and sediment (1 to 14 x 10(7) CFU g(-1)) samples than the non coral reef areas (3.4 to 10.5 x 10(4) CFU ml(-1) in water and 0.9 to 7 x 10(6) CFU g(-1)). The study also found the dominance of gram negative groups at all the three stations (64.73, 63,5 and 72.59%) with Pseudomonas contributing maximum number of strains in all the samples. In addition Vibrio, Aeromonas, Flavobacterium, Cytophaga, Enterobacter and Alcaligenes were also recorded. The gram positive group was represented by Bacillus, Micrococcus, Arthrobacter and Corynebacterium. The genetic composition of THB isolated from the coral mucus revealed the presence of Vibrio and Micrococcus in all the coral mucus.     

Impact of sequential hybrid pretreatment in anaerobic digestion of food waste and garden waste co-digestion on waste characteristics and biogas production

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - One-third of food produced results as food waste, with no organized and sustainable disposal, and ends up in landfills. Garden waste is yet another...