• Pranali Rajaram Jadhav
• Dr. Kishori Swapnil Tarfe

Rapid industrialization has led to accumulation of various toxic elements that harm the environment and ultimately affect the human lives. Synthetic dyes are widely used because of cost effective synthesis, high stability to light, temperature etc. as compared to natural dyes. Textile dye effluents generally consist of toxic synthetic dyes which consist of 50%-70% of azo dyes. Bioremediation has become a key to deal with hazardous pollutants. Various bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis, Aeromonas hydrophila and Bacillus cereus, fungi & actinomycetes have been found to possess dye decolorizing activity. Bacteria from dye contaminated effluent may possess dye decolorizing ability due to their adaptation to extreme environment conditions. Media consisting of Congo red at different concentrations ranging from 0.005%, 0.01% and 1 % were used in order to isolate dye degrading organisms from effluent sample. Colony characteristics of organisms obtained from medium containing Congo red were studied and biochemical tests i.e. IMViC, TSI were performed for identification. Dye decolorization assay was performed colorimetrically at 465 nm for concentrations of Congo red ranging from 0.005%, 0.01% and 1% every 24 hours. The percentage of dye decolorization activity was found to be 97%, 61% and 0.05% for Congo red for concentrations ranging from 0.005%, 0.01% and 1% respectively. The probable isolated organism from Congo red i.e. Pantoea agglomerans was found to possess the ability to decolorize Congo red at lower concentration. The probable isolates obtained needs to be further investigated regarding various factors such as media composition affecting dye degradation & mechanism of dye degrading activity.

Azo dyes, Bioremediation, Dye decolorization assay, Pantoea agglomerans, Congo red.

"Isolation of Congo red dye degrading bacteria from effluent, screening & evaluation of their dye decolorization activity", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 6, page no.189-201, June 2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1906T24.pdf

"Isolation of Congo red dye degrading bacteria from effluent, screening & evaluation of their dye decolorization activity", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 6, page no. pp189-201, June 2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1906T24.pdf