Effect of heavy metals and phenol on bacterial decolourisation and COD reduction of sucrose-aspartic acid Maillard product

Melanodins are amino-carbonyl complex, predominantly present in sugarcane molasses based distillery wastewater as major source of colourant. The microbial decolourisation of melanoidin is a challenge due to its binding property with other co-pollutants of distillery waste. Results revealed that the presence of Zn²⁺ (2.00-20.00 mg/L) in melanoidin solution (1200 mg/L) stimulated the bacterial growth and sucrose-aspartic acid Maillard product (SAA) decolourisation as compared to control, while Fe³⁺ and Mn²⁺ at the same concentration inhibited the process. However, the presence of phenol (100 mg/L) along with Zn²⁺, Fe³⁺ and Mn²⁺ suppressed the bacterial growth, SAA decolourisation and MnP activity. The shrinkage and reduced number of bacterial cell count at higher concentration of heavy metals in presence of phenol was also observed under scanning electron microscope.