SAFRANIN DECOLOURISATION FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION USING CLADOSPORIUM SPECIES - AN IN VITRO STUDY

Abstract

Fungus play a considerable role in the bioremediation of dye contaminated soil and wastewater. In the present investigation decolourisation of safranin using Cladosporium species was assessed. Various parameters such as pH, temperature, dye and inoculum concentration, incubation time, carbon and nitrogen sources were optimized for effective decolourisation. Maximum decolourisation was observed when 1% Cladosporium species was inoculated in the medium amended with 0.01g of safranin at 30˚C on fifth day at pH 5 supplemented with 1% glucose and potassium nitrate. The dye loaded and unloaded fungal biomass was subjected to Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectral analysis and it was recorded that the hydroxyl, carboxyl and amine groups present on the surface of the cell walls helps in the binding of safranin. Phytotoxicity study reveals that the fenugreek grown using degraded metabolites of safranin solution seems to be non-toxic when compared with control plants. Thus the results suggest that Cladosporium species removes safranin from the aqueous solution at optimized conditions.