Decolorization and biodegradation of remazol reactive dyes by Clostridium species

Decolorisation and biodegradation efficacy of potential strains isolated from dyeing effluent collected from Tirupur region, Tamil Nadu, India were studied in remazol reactive dyes. Two potential strains Clostridium butyricum (EI05) and Clostridium acetobutylicum (EI25) identified by biochemical tests in our previous study were studied for their decolorising efficiency on various remazol reactive dyes (Remazol Blue RGB, Remazol Blue RR, Remazol Navy RGB and Remazol Orange RR). The synthetic dyes showed complete decolorization after 24–72 h by two potential strains EI05 and EI25. Clostridium acetobutylicum (EI25) was found to be the most potential strain isolated. The spectral analysis was performed by UV–Visible spectroscopy and FT-IR spectroscopy to study biodegradation. The peak disappearance in UV spectrum, peak shifts and disappearance in FTIR spectrum of treated samples indicated biodegradation. Thus Clostridium species could able to decolorize the remazol reactive dyes.