Degradation and detoxification of disperse dye Scarlet RR by Galactomyces geotrichum MTCC 1360.

Galactomyces geotrichum MTCC 1360 degraded the Scarlet RR (100 mg/l) dye within 18 h, under shaking conditions (150 rpm) in malt yeast medium. The optimum pH and the temperature for decolorization were pH 12 and 50 degrees , respectively. Enzymatic studies revealed an induction of the enzymes, including flavin reductase during the initial stage and lignin peroxidase after complete decolorization of the dye. Decolorization of the dye was induced by the addition of CaCO3 to the medium. EDTA had an inhibitory effect on the dye decolorization along with the laccase activity. The metabolites formed after complete decolorization were analyzed by UV-VIS, HPLC, and FTIR. The GC/MS identification of 3 H quinazolin-4- one, 2-ethylamino-acetamide, 1-chloro-4-nitro-benzene, N- (4-chloro-phenyl)-hydroxylamine, and 4-chloro-pheny-lamine as the final metabolites corroborated with the degradation pathway is suggested to understand the mechanism used by G.geotrichum and thereby aiding development of technologies for the application of this organism to the cleaning-up of aquatic and terrestrial environments.