ISCA Journal of Biological Sciences _________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 1(2), 17-24, June (2012) ISCA J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 17 Fungal Degradation of Azo dye- Red 3BN and Optimization of Physico-Chemical ParametersKumar Praveen G.N. and Sumangala K. Bhat* Department of Biotechnology, Acharya Institute of Technology, Soladevanahalli, Bangalore-560 090, INDIAAvailable online at: www.isca.in (Received 16th May 2012, revised 22nd May 2012, accepted 24th May 2012)Abstract Decolorization of azo dye red 3BN by three fungal species Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus niger and Cladosporium sp. has been analyzed using potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium containing 0.01% of Red 3 BN. Physico-chemical parameters like carbon source, nitrogen source, temperature, pH and inoculum volume are optimized for the decolorization process by changing one parameter at a time. Optimal condition for P. chrysogenum was found to be 1% maltose 1% yeast extract, pH 8, 27°C and 2% inoculums. Ideal condition for A. niger was found to be1% maltose , 1% yeast extract, pH 8, 27C and 10% inoculum and that for Cladosporium sp. was found to be1% maltose, 1% peptone, pH 6, 37C and 10% inoculum . Extent of decolorization recorded by P. chrysogenum under ideal conditions was 99.56%, A. niger was 98.64% and that by Cladosporium sp. was 98.18%. The study has confirmed the potential of the above fungi in the decolorization of azo dye Red 3BN and opened scope for future analysis of their performance in the treatment of textile effluent. Keywords: Azo dye, Red 3BN, penicillium chrysogenum, aspergillus niger,decolorization.Introduction Environmental pollution from human activities is a major challenge of civilization today1,2,3. Textile dyes constitute a major source of pollution. Textile industries consume a major share of dyes in India 4. Textile dyes are classified as azo, diazo, cationic, basic, anthraquinone base and metal complex dyes based on the nature of their chemical structure. Synthetic dyes such as azo dyes, xanthenes dyes and anthraquinone dyes are very toxic to living organisms. Azo dyes constitute a major class of environmental pollutants. Some of the azo dyes or their breakdown products are known to be highly toxic and mutagenic on living organisms. Characteristics of the waste water from textile industries vary depending on the process employed. Accordingly wastewater generated from of the operations in wet processing such as desiring, scouring, bleaching, mercerizing, dyeing, printing and finishing differ considerably7, 8. The concentration of dye contained in the effluent varies between 10-200mg/ml depending on the dyeing process. Many dyes and pigments are hazardous and toxic for human as well as aquatic life at the concentration at which they are being discharged to receiving water10. The high concentration of dyes is known to cause ulceration of skin, and mucous membrane, dermatitis, perforation of nasal septum, severe irritation of respiratory tract and on ingestion may cause omitting, pain, haemorrhage and sharp diarrhea11. Dyes used in the textile industry are difficult to remove by conventional waste water treatment methods since they are stable to light and oxidizing agents and are resistant to aerobic digestion. Presence of carcinogens has also been reported in combined waste water of dyeing and printing units12. The slow rate of decomposition of dyes present in waste water necessitates treatment methods to accelerate the process13. The methods employed for alleviating the environmental problems caused by the textile dye effluent include physical, chemical and biological treatment processes. The physico-chemical methods include adsorption, chemical precipitation, flocculation, electro floatation, oxidation via chlorine, peroxide, electrolysis and ozone treatment, reduction, electrochemical destruction and ion-pair extraction14,15,16. Biological methods of removal involve use of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi to convert the pollutants into non-toxic harmless substances. Biological processes convert organic compounds to water and carbon dioxide, have low cost sustainable and are easy to use17. Microbial degradation and decolorization of dyes have received much attention from the viewpoint of treating industrial wastewater containing dyes18. Azo dyes are the largest class of dyes, which are not readily degraded by microorganisms. Microorganisms those are able to degrade azo dyes anaerobically, have been isolated19. However aromatic amines produced by all these anaerobic microorganisms may be toxic and carcinogenic. Current study aims to investigate the potential of fungi for decolorization of textile dyes under aerobic conditions. Material and MethodsAll chemicals used in this study were of AR grade. Textile dye, Red 3BN and effluent sample were collected from a dying industry located at Peenya, Bangalore (Karnataka). The sample was collected from the effluent disposal site of the industry. Carbon and nitrogen sources used were purchased from Himedia Laboratories (Mumbai, India). One ml of effluent was transferred into 9 ml of distilled water in sterile test tubes. This stock solution was by serially diluted to ISCA Journal of Biological Sciences ______________________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202Vol. 1(2), 17-24, June (2012) ISCA J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 18 get concentration ranging from. 0.1 ml of sample from each dilution was spread on potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates containing chloramphenicol with the help of L-rod. The petriplates were incubated at room temperature for 5 days. A plug of mycelium of the fungal isolate was placed on a clean slide containing a drop of lacto phenol cotton blue (LCB) solution. The mycelium was spread using a sterile needle and a clean cover slip was placed above the preparation and observed under the light microscope for the identification of fungal isolate. Pure fungal isolates were obtained on the PDA plates by sub culturing. The isolates were further sub-cultured on PDA slants and incubated at room temperature. After sufficient growth of the colonies, the slants were stored in refrigerator and served as stock cultures. Subcultures were routinely made every 30 to 60 days. A mycelium disc of 1.2 cm diameter obtained from a 4 to 5 days old culture plates of fungus were transferred to 25 ml PDA in a 250 ml conical flask and incubated at room temperature for 4 to 5 days. At the end of the incubation period 30 ml sterile water was added to each culture and the flasks were shaken in a shaker. Then the content of each conical flasks were filtered through glass wool. The spores contained in the filtrate were used for spore count. The same spore suspension was used in the experiments described below. All the isolates were selected for screening of decolorizing activity of the dye red 3BN. Inoculums (10 spores/ml) of each isolate were added to 100 ml of sabouraud dextrose (SD) broth supplemented with 10% dye effluent and incubated at 27°C for 6 days. After 6 days, effective decolorization was seen visually. Those isolates showing decolorization of textile dye effluent were selected for further studies on optimization of physic-chemical parameters. Three fungal strains used for extensive studies were identified on the basis of morphological characteristics. Dye degradation activity in terms of percent decolorization was determined by following method described by Moorthi et al.20. 10 ml of fungal culture with dye in SD broth was centrifuged at 8000 rpm for 15 minutes. Spectrophotometer was used for absorbance measurement. The decrease in absorbance was monitored by measuring absorbance of the supernatant at 600nm for Red 3BN. Decolorization activity was calculated according to the following formula20. D= [(A-A) /A] x 100 Where, D=decolorization in %; A=initial absorbance; A= final absorbance Decolorization of red 3BN textile dye (0.02g) in SD broth by all three isolates was optimized with respect to the effect of 1%, carbon sources (maltose, fructose, sucrose), 1%, nitrogen sources (beef extract, yeast extract, peptone), pH (4, 6, 8) and temperature ( 27, 37°C). All experiments were carried out with 1%, (v/v) inoculum of 10 spores/ml concentration and SD broth without culture was served as control. Influence of the volume of inoculums was evaluated by inoculating 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10% of respective cultures to PDA media containing red 3BN. All the flasks were incubated at respective temperature mentioned above under shaking conditions for 6 days. The time course of decolorization was monitored under optimum conditions. Flasks were incubated up to 144h at their respective temperature and samples were removed after every 24 h and analyzed for decolorization activity as described above. Results and DiscussionColony morphology, microscopic observation and culture characteristics have confirmed the identity of the fungi as P. chrysogenum, A. niger and Cladosporium species. (table - 1 and figure - 1). Decolorization of the dyes is accepted as one of the indications of degradation of the dyes and hence this has been considered as the major parameter for the evaluation of dye degradation in the current study. Figure-2 illustrates the effect of different carbon sources on decolorization of Red 3BN by P .chrysogenum, A. niger, and Cladosporium sp. Maltose has emerged as the ideal carbon source for all the 3 strains of fungi, all recording highest rate of decolorization. Fructose recoded least percentage decolorization by all the 3 strains and sucrose supported medium level of activity. Of the three fungal strains tested, A. niger exhibited highest activity recording 98.2% reduction in color among all the combinations tried. Effect of Nitrogen source: Effect of different nitrogen sources on decolorization of red 3BN by P. chrysogenum, A. niger and Cladosporium sp. is illustrated in figure 3. Among the three nitrogen sources evaluated, peptone appeared to support the decolorization process by all the 3 fungal strains, recording more than 90% decolorization. However, P .chrysogenum exhibited highest percentage decolorization when yeast extract was used as nitrogen source, and also emerged as the strain recording highest activity. Effect of Temperature: Evaluation of the effect of temperature on dye decolorization with reference to red 3BN by the fungi, P.chrysogenum, A.niger and Cladosporium sp. is presented in figure 4. The results have indicated 27C as better than 37C for P.chrysogenum, and A.niger. However, Cladosporium sp.showed highest activity at 37 oC. Further it has been observed that P.chrysogenum.is more efficient in decolorizing Red 3BN than other two species under in vitro condition. ISCA Journal of Biological Sciences ______________________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202Vol. 1(2), 17-24, June (2012) ISCA J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 19 Effect of pH: Figure – 5 illustrates the effect of different pH on decolorization of Red 3BN by P.chrysogenum, A.niger and Cladosporium sp. From the above data it can be inferred that A .niger is more efficient in decolorizing red 3BN than other two speciesand pH 8 is the ideal for its activity under in vitro condition, recording 96.67% decolorization of the dye. Maximum activity of P.chrysogenum was also recorded at pH 8, but extent of decolorization of the dye was only 90. 91%. Maximum decolorization activity of Cladosporium sp. was observed at pH 6 with 89.29% decolorization. Effect of inoculums: Influence of the volume of inoculum on decolorization of the dye by P.chrysogenum, A.niger andCladosporium sp. is presented in figure 6. From the data it is observed that A.niger and P.chrysogenum are equally effective in the decolorizing Red 3BN recording more than 95% decolorization of the dye. The ideal volume of inoculum was found to be 2% for P.chrysogenum and 10% for A.niger. The experiments on optimization of culture conditions for the decolorization of the dye by the above three strains of fungi have identified Maltose at 1% concentration as the ideal carbon source for all the fungi tested. Peptone acted as ideal nitrogen source for A.niger and Cladosporium sp. while yeast extract promoted maximum activity by P.chrysogenum. Optimum temperature for P.chrysogenum and A.niger was found to be 27ēC and that for Cladosporium sp. as 37ēC. P.chrysogenumand A.niger recorded highest activity at pH 8 and Cladosporium sp. at pH 6. Optimum volume of inoculums was 10% for A.niger and Cladosporium sp. and that for P.chrysogenum was found to be 2%. Evaluation of Time course of dye decolorization: The time course of decolorization of red 3BN under optimum conditions by P.chrysogenum, A.niger and Cladosporium sp. is illustrated in figure 7. The results have indicated the fact that both P. chrysogenum and A.niger are capable of executing nearly 100% decolorization of red 3 BN under their respective optimal conditions while Cladosporium sp. exhibited slightly lower level of decolorization activity. Decolorization of textile dyes by fungi has been investigated extensively, reporting wide range of combinations of dyes and fungi21,22. Current study has confirmed the decolorization efficiency of 3 fungal strains, P.chrysogenum, A.niger and Cladosporium sp. in decolorizing the textile azo dye red 3 BN. The study has further revealed the influence of physicochemical parameters on the process. This result is in agreement with earlier reports on optimization of conditions for dye degradation23. Comparative analysis of the time course of decolorization by the 3 fungi under their respective optimal conditions has revealed high order of activity by P.chrysogenum, and A.niger recording almost 100% decolorization. Cladosporium sp. also recorded considerably good level of activity. Earlier reports have indicated the capability of decolorization of the dye reactive blue MR by Aspergillus spp., including A.niger18 Similarly, Penicillium spp. also known to decolorize different azo dyes and textile effluent24. Therefore, it can be concluded that species of Aspergillus and Penicillium are good source of natural microflora for exploitation in the bioremediation of textile effluent. Table 1 Identification of dye decolorizing fungi from effluent Isolate No. Microscopic observationsCultural charactersticsOrganisms identified 1 Hyline and septate hyphae. conidiophores are long. They are branch and give the brush like appearance, sterigmata are long and produce chain of conidia. Conidia are spherical or oval Initially white and fluffy, later produced pigmented spores turn into green or bluish green. Penicillium chrysogenum 2 Aseptate, short conidiophores and terminally with globose vesicle. Sterigmata are doubled and covered with entire vesicle. Cottony growth with green or yellow colour covered with black spores AspergillusNiger 3 Branching chains of conidia, showing conidiogenous loci with disjuncture conidiogenous loci at apex of a secondary ramoconidium, two conidiogenous loci at apex of a conidiophore, the one facing the viewer is clearly coronate light green to grayish surface; gray to black back surface; blastoconidia. Cladosporium sp. ISCA Journal of Biological Sciences ______________________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202Vol. 1(2), 17-24, June (2012) ISCA J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 20 Figure-1 Petri plates containing colonies of fungi decolorizing red 3BN P. chrysogenum, A.niger and Cladosporium spFigure-2 Effect of different carbon sources on decolorization of red 3BN dye by fungal isolates (pH 5.6, 30C , 120rpm, 144h)  \n \r     \n \r\r     \n \r \r  \r   \n \n  ISCA Journal of Biological Sciences ______________________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202Vol. 1(2), 17-24, June (2012) ISCA J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 21 Figure-3 Effect of different nitrogen sources on decolorization of red 3BN dye by fungal isolates (pH 5.6, 30C, 120rpm, 144h) Figure-4 Effect of different temperature on decolorization of red 3BN dye by fungal isolates (pH 5.6, 120rpm, 144h)  \n \r     \n \r\r   Optimization of Nitrogen source for degradation of Red 3BN ! \n  "#! \n  \n \r     \n \r\r   Optimization of temperature for degradation of Red 3BN $% % ISCA Journal of Biological Sciences ______________________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202Vol. 1(2), 17-24, June (2012) ISCA J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 22 Figure-5 Effect of different pH on decolorization of red 3BN dye by fungal isolates (30C, 120rpm, 144h) Figure-6 Effect of different inoculum on decolorization of red 3BN dye by fungal isolates (pH 5.6, 30C, 120rpm, 144h)  \n \r    %Decolourization\r   Optimization of pH for degradation of Red 3BN & & &   \n \r      \n \r\r     \n \r \r  \r ' ' ' ' ' ISCA Journal of Biological Sciences ______________________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202Vol. 1(2), 17-24, June (2012) ISCA J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 23 Figure-7 Time course of decolorization of red 3BN dye by fungal isolates under optimum condition Conclusion Current study has isolated, identified and proved the decolorization activity of textile azo dye red 3 BN by P.chrysogenum, A.niger and Cladosporium sp. and optimized the physicochemical parameters for the same. Further investigation on enzymes and mechanisms involved in decolorization is in progress. AcknowledgementThe authors gratefully acknowledge prof. S. M. Gopinath, HOD, Biotechnology, and also the principal Acharya Institute of Technology, Bangalore for providing the facilities for the research work and the Management of AIT, Bangalore for their support and encouragement. References 1.Srivastava K.P. and Singh Vikash Kumar, Impact of Air-Pollution on pH of soil of Saran, Bihar, India, Res. J. Recent Sci., 1(4), 9 -13 (2012)2.Parikh Ankita N. and Mankodi P.C., Limnology of Sama Pond, Vadodara City, Gujarat, Res. J.Recent Sci., 1(1), 16 - 21 (2012)3.Patil Shilpa G., Chonde Sonal G., Jadhav Aasawari S. and Raut Prakash D., Impact of Physico chemical characteristics of Shivaji University lakes on p Phytoplankton communities, Kolhapur, India, Res. J. 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