Decolorization of Triphenylmethane Dyes by Six White-Rot Fungi Isolated from Nature

Abstract

The ability to decolorize three Triphenyl methane dyes (crystal violet, Bromophenol blue and Malachite green) by six white rot fungi, isolated from nature, was evaluated in liquid media. All six-fungi showed high decolorization capacity and were able to decolorize all three dyes within 72 hours. All six fungal strains not only decolorized these dyes, they also showed varied levels of laccase production during decolorization. Their growth was not affected much by presence of dyes in the medium. Three of these fungi were found to have capacity to decolorize as high as 6g/L concentration of these dyes. Out of the three dyes tested here, Malachite green was decolorized fastest. The dyes were not just being decolorized; they were actually being degraded as was evident from their UV-Visible Spectra. Furthermore, the fungi degraded these dyes without accumulating any phenolic compounds.