Faculty Publications

Microbial degradation of azo dyes

Document Type

Book Chapter

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Progress in Industrial Microbiology

Volume

32

Issue

C

First Page

157

Last Page

176

Abstract

Azo dyes are common synthetic colorants released into the environment. Their widespread use, coupled with the fact that azo dyes are not readily degraded in biological treatment systems makes this class of chemicals a significant environmental problem. Selected aspects of environmental problems, that are associated with the use of azo dyes documenting the biodegradation of azo dyes by bacteria and fungi, are reviewed. The most interesting finding is that the initial degradation of many azo dyes, in this system, is not a reduction of the azo linkage, but rather an oxidation reaction, mediated by lignin peroxidases or Mn peroxidases that are secreted by the fungus during idiophase metabolism. The observation, that other white rot fungi degrade azo dyes, suggests that this ability may be widespread among such fungi. The initial investigation of the ability of P. chrysosporium to degrade azo dyes showed that all three of the dyes assayed were degraded. © 1995 Elsevier B.V.

Original Publication Date

1-1-1995

DOI of published version

10.1016/S0079-6352(06)80031-7

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