Exploring threshold operation criteria of biostimulation for azo dye decolorization using immobilized cell systems

A Potentially Practicable Halotolerant Yeast Meyerozyma guilliermondii A4 for Decolorizing and Detoxifying Azo Dyes and Its Possible Halotolerance Mechanisms

In this study, a halotolerant yeast that is capable of efficiently decolorizing and detoxifying azo dyes was isolated, identified and characterized for coping with the treatment of azo-dye-containing wastewaters. A characterization of the yeast, including the optimization of its metabolism and growth conditions, its detoxification effectiveness and the degradation pathway of the target azo dye, as well as a determination of the key activities of the enzyme, was performed. Finally, the possible halotolerance mechanisms of the yeast were proposed through a comparative transcriptome analysis. The results show that a halotolerant yeast, A4, which could decolorize various azo dyes, was isolated from a marine environment and was identified as Meyerozyma guilliermondii. Its optimal conditions for dye decolorization were ≥1.0 g/L of sucrose, ≥0.2 g/L of (NH4)2SO4, 0.06 g/L of yeast extract, pH 6.0, a temperature of 35 °C and a rotation speed of ≥160 rpm. The yeast, A4, degraded and detoxified ARB through a series of steps, relying on the key enzymes that might be involved in the degradation of azo dye and aromatic compounds. The halotolerance of the yeast, A4, was mainly related to the regulation of the cell wall components and the excessive uptake of Na+/K+ and/or compatible organic solutes into the cells under different salinity conditions. The up-regulation of genes encoding Ca2+-ATPase and casein kinase II as well as the enrichment of KEGG pathways associated with proteasome and ribosome might also be responsible for its halotolerance.

Biological activated carbon process for biotransformation of azo dye Carmoisine by Klebsiella spp

The feasibility of employing the biological activated carbon (BAC) process to debilitate azo dye Carmoisine by Klebsiella spp. was investigated. Plate assay revealed the capability of Klebsiella spp. for removal of Carmoisine via degradation. Kinetic parameters were measured for Carmoisine debilitation by Klebsiella spp. using the suspended anaerobic process. Two types of granular and rod-shaped activated carbon were used to form the biological beds in order to study the Carmoisine debilitation in batch processes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were used to indicate the colonization and biofilm formation of bacteria grown on activated carbon particles (ACPs). Thin-layer chromatography (TLC), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and biosorption studies demonstrated biotransformation of Carmoisine into its constituent aromatic amines during the Carmoisine debilitation in suspended anaerobic and BAC processes. The porosity of activated carbons, inoculation size and age of biological beds were the important factors affecting the viability of bacterial cells grown on ACPs and, consequently, the rate and efficiency of the Carmoisine debilitation process determined through spectrophotometry. The reusability of biological beds was demonstrated by conducting sequential batch experiments. In conclusion, the BAC process proved to be an efficient method for anaerobic dye degradation.

Does fertilizer (N15P15K15) amendment enhance phytoremediation of petroleum-polluted aquatic ecosystem in the presence of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes [Mart.] Solms)?

This study investigated the effects of inorganic fertilizer (N15P15K15) amendments on crude oil uptake by water hyacinth. Experimental units (water hyacinth grown in fresh water) were spiked with 0, 20, 40 and 60 mg/L crude oil. After 24 h, they were randomly assigned fertilizer (N15P15K15) at three different concentrations; 0, 6 and 10 mg/L. Crude oil degradation and absorption were determined by measuring total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in the water column and water hyacinth, respectively. The measurements were taken monthly for six months (February-August 2010). The results showed that TPH concentration in the water column in the treatment amended at 6 mg/L (0.30 ± 0.01 mg/L) was significantly lower (p < .05) than the treatment amended at 10 mg/L (0.76 ± 0.15 mg/L) but was similar to the control (0.33 ± 0.03 mg/L). The water hyacinth in the control (phytoremediation) absorbed significantly higher (p < .05) TPH than the fertilizer-amended treatments. The first-order kinetic model gave a better description of the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons. The study showed that phytoremediation of crude oil by water hyacinth and biostimulation with fertilizer (N15P15K15) is possible.

Decolorization of the metal textile dye Lanaset Grey G by immobilized white-rot fungi

In this paper we studied the ability of four Tunisian-isolated fungi (i.e. Coriolopsis gallica, Bjerkandera adusta, Trametes versicolor and Trametes trogii) immobilized into Ca-alginate beads to decolorize the metal textile dye Lanaset Grey G (LG). The effect of different operational conditions, such as initial dye concentration, temperature, pH, beads/medium ratio and agitation, on dye decolorization by the immobilized fungi was investigated. Maximal decolorization percentages of 88.7%, 89.3%, 82.1% and 81.3% for C. gallica, B. adusta, T. versicolor and T. trogii were attained, respectively, when operating at an initial LG concentration of 150 mg/L, pH values of 5.0-6.0, temperatures of 40-45 °C and a beads/medium ratio of 20% (w/v) in static conditions after 72 h of incubation. Subsequently, the re-usability of the immobilized fungi was evaluated. After three decolorization cycles, the decolorization percentage of free cell cultures dropped to values below 36%, while decolorization percentages of about 75%, 70%, 60% and 68% were obtained by the immobilized cultures of C. gallica, B. adusta, T. versicolor and T. trogii, respectively.

Comparative isocline analysis upon microbial decolorization in immobilized cell bioreactor using biocarriers

This study used various biocarriers (e.g., porites corals, Biolite™, porous ceramic filter media (PCFM)) to immobilize cells in fixed bed bioreactor (FBB) for wastewater decolorization. As prior studies proposed, an innovative graphical method of constant-slope isoclines to determine maximal allowable treatment capacity (MATC) was used as screening criteria for feasibility of packing matrices of immobilized cell systems (ICSs). Moreover, detailed inspection upon physical and chemical characteristics of packing matrices was also carried out to confirm the consistency of MTAC. The result of isocline analysis was in parallel with physical characteristics of biocarriers (i.e., porites coral>Biolite™>PCFM). This first-attempt study successfully provided perspective in general terms to assess how the selected supporting materials were suitable to be packing matrices of ICSs for industrial applications (e.g., wastewater treatment).

Molecular cloning and heterologous expression of laccase from Aeromonas hydrophila NIU01 in Escherichia coli with parameters optimization in production

Prior studies disclosed that Aeromonas hydrophila NIU01 was a biodecolorization and bioelectricity bacterium which was isolated from a cross-strait of Taiwan. However, enzymatic function, laccase, involved in this strain had never been reported. This first attempt is to explore its laccase activity, the molecular cloning and heterologous recombinant expression in Escherichia coli. A full-length novel gene of 1,647 bp, LacA, encoding of 549 amino acids was successfully cloned by polymerase chain reaction. The recombinant pET-15b(+)-NIU-LacA expression was compared in different E. coli strains. By applying Taguchi's L9 in culture optimization, the soluble laccase increased to 22.7 %, in which the conditions were obtained at 22 °C with initial shaking speed at 200 rpm, addition of lactose of 0.2 mM and CuSO4 of 0.5 mM to the medium, and shaking off while cell mass reached to OD(600nm) of 1.5. NIU-LacA was strongly inhibited by chloride ion. The optimal temperature was 60 °C and the optimum pH for ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazolinesulfonic acid) and 2,6-DMP (2,6-dimethoxyphenol) were pH 2.1 and pH 7.5 which enzymatic activity was 274.6 and 44.8 U/L, respectively. Further study in structural modeling of NIU-LacA showed the C terminal domain was the major variance in the three most closely A. hydrophila strains.

Assessment upon azo dye decolorization and bioelectricity generation by Proteus hauseri

This study explored dye decolorization and bioelectricity generation of indigenous Proteus hauseri ZMd44 for dye-bearing wastewater treatment. Chemical structures of azo dyes apparently affected the performance of dye biodecolorization. Additions of diazo dye C.I. reactive blue 160 (RBu160) stimulated simultaneous dye decolorization and bioelectricity generation of ZMd44 in single chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs). However, high-level additions of RBu160 repressed capabilities of power production in MFC due to competition of electrons used for reductive decolorization. Decolorized intermediates of RBu160-phenyl methadiamine and 5-sulfoanthranilic acid as electron shuttles might mediate electron transport for current generation in MFC.