Demethylation and desulfonation of textile industry dye, Thiazole Yellow G by Aspergillus niger LAG

Filamentous fungi perform tremendously in adsorption of dyes from polluted environment. In this study, Aspergillus niger LAG decolorized thiazole yellow G dye within 5 days. Scale up studies done revealed that maximum decolorization (98%) was achieved at a concentration (10 mg L(−1)), temperature (35 °C) and pH 6. The fungus exhibited significant inductions in laccase (71%) and lignin peroxidase (48%) respectively. Spectrometric analysis (UV–vis, HPLC and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) was used in analyzing the degraded products of the dye. The GCMS analysis revealed the production of two metabolites; sodium 6-methyl-2-phenyl-1,3-benzothiazole-7-sulfonate and 2-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3-thiazole after degradation of thiazole yellow G dye. A metabolic pathway of thiazole yellow G dye degradation by Aspergillus niger was proposed. Significant growth in plumule and radicle couple with an attendant increase in germination further confirmed the detoxified status of the dye after degradation.