Abstract

A bacterial strain, P28, with significant capability to decolorize the textile dye, Congo Red and Yellow HEGR was isolated from the effluent collected from a textile industry. Phenotypic characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA sequence indicated that the bacterial strain belonged to the genus Lysobacter. Bacterial isolate P28 showed a remarkable ability to decolorize azo dyes, including Congo Red and Yellow HEGR. Lysobacter sp. P28  grew well in a concentration of dye 50 mg L^-1 (Congo Red and Yellow HEGR) resulting in approximately 80.4 and 80.1% decolorization extent in 72 h, and could tolerate up to 200 mg L^-1 of dye with 60.4 and 50.8% decolorization extent in 84 h. High decolorization extent and facile conditions show the potential for this bacterial strain to be exploited in the biological treatment of dyeing mill effluents.

Key words: Azo dyes, bacterial degradation, Lysobacter, decolorization.