Biodegradation of triphenylmethane dye crystal violet by Cedecea davisae.

Abstract

The present study focuses on the biodegradation of triphenylmethane dye crystal violet (CV) by Cedecea davisae. The degradation of CV was evaluated via ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (UV254) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, and the kinetics was used to evaluate the degradation efficiency. Intermediate products were analyzed via UV-vis spectroscopy (UV), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results showed that C. davisae was able to decolorize the CV, and the maximum decolorization ratio reached 97%. COD reduction was observed after decolorization, with average removal rates of >90% after 48 h. Moreover, 50% of UV254 can be removed after 14 h. The removal efficiency of CV by C. davisae followed first- and second-order reaction kinetics at temperature ranged from 20 °C to 40 °C and pH 4.0 to 6.0, respectively. By using UV, the peak representing the CV disappeared 14 h after CV decolorization, and the degradation of aromatic and naphthalene rings was attributed to the formation of a new metabolite. The FTIR spectra of metabolites showed that a new functional group of OH, CH, CH2, CH3, NH, CN, CN, or CO was produced. The chromatograms of HPLC recorded at 589 nm at retention time decreased and were not detected following incubation for 8 h by C. davisae.