International Research Journal of Biotechnology

Abstract

Mycoremediation is a great technology and can be exploited for the bioremediation of dyes contaminated soil and also to reclaim wastewater. Fungal strain isolated from local Tie and Dye factory in Awka was examined for their dye-degrading potentials and it was found to be capable of degrading Congo red under its optimized medium and growth conditions using solid (agar) phase biodegradation analysis, it is an employable approach for textile effluent degradation to less toxic components. The effect of independent variables such as time, temperature, and pH on decolorization efficiency was constant and put into perspectives. The biodegradation of Congo Red was demonstrated by decolorization of solid state dye-minimal culture medium, the extent of degradation was measured to be directly proportional to fungal growth which was determined by monitoring the growth of the 2 fungal isolates(Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus) diameterin of this dye-minimal containing various concentration (0.1%, 0.01%, and 0.001%) of dyes formulation. The biodegradation of the dye was related to its decolorization during growth of fungi and Apergillus niger showed a degradation potential of about 81% while Aspegillus flavus showed a potential of 62%. There was increase in decolorization diameter along with increase in incubation time. While performing the process optimization studies for the decolorization of the dye-maximum decolorization was observed at room temperature and under static conditions. It was found that the isolated fungal strain was considered to be well adapted, resistant and highly acclimatized to dye contaminated soils showing the decolorization of Congo red dye.

Keywords

Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Congo red, Mycoremediation, Decolorization

INTRODUCTION

Congo red histologic stain is still of fundamental importance in the laboratory. ‘‘Congophilic’’ staining of fixed tissue and the detection of apple-green birefringence when viewed under polarized light remain essential for the diagnosis of amyloidosis The first produced aniline dyes were limited by the need to use a substance known as a mordant to fix the dye permanently to the textile fiber, a requirement that added an extra step to the dyeing process. Congo red dye brilliant red dye was the first aniline dye that did not require a mordant to stain textile fibers- direct dye (David, 2001).

Since dyes are typically stable to light and oxidation and cannot be treated by traditional methods of aerobic digestion, the traditional methods of removing dye using alum, ferric chloride, activated carbon, lime, among others for the treatment of dyes in industrial wastewater create a number of problems (EI-Said et al., 2012). Hence, the need for more environmental friendly approach through the use of autochthonous fungi isolates from Tie and dye effluent that have acclimatized with a variety of basic dyes to curb the abyss associated with toxicity caused from dye pollution in both aquatic and terrestrial habitat through erosion. Nigeria Textile Industry was the second largest in Africa after Egypt with above 250 vibrant factories and over 50 percent capacity utilization (Gompil S 2004) contributing a large proportion of the quantity of dyes that makes it into water bodies and terrestrial habitat- It is against this backdrop of degrading the untreated dyes effluent this research was borne.

Microorganisms provide a potential wealth in biodegradation (Agu KC et al., 2015), (Anaukwu CG et al., 2016), (Okafor et al., 2016). Bioremediation per se, embodies a host of other processes including biodegradation. Biodegradation is the biologically catalyzed break down in the structural and molecular complexity of compounds into smaller components such as carbondioxide and minerals by enzymatic or metabolic processes in the environment (Agu KC et al., 2014), (Mbachu AE et al., 2014), (Orji MU et al., 2014), (Ifediegwu MC et al., 2015), (Okafor UC et al., 2016), (Agu KC et al., 2022), (Orji MU et al., 2022). Microorganisms have the ability to interact, and utilize substances leading to structural changes or complete degradation of the target molecules (Anaukwu CG et al., 2016), (Ojiagu KD et al., 2018, (Agu KC et al., 2021), (Agu KC et al., 2022).

The aim of the present study was to screen and isolate a potent fungus capable of biodegrading the azo dye Congo red using solid phase degradation analysis though optimize the medium conditions and factors for maximum dye degradation.

METHODOLOGY

Sample collection

30grams of soil samples were randomly collected from three (3) different local tie and dye factories in Awka, Anambra state, Nigeria. The soil samples were collected aseptically using a sterile spatula and placed in a sterile container.

Sample analysis

One gram (1g) of the soil sample was weighed out aseptically and introduced into 9ml of sterile water. It was properly shaken to homogenize the sample. A 10- fold serial dilution of each of the sample was carried out using peptone water as the diluent. 0.1ml of appropriate dilution (10-3) of the sample were pour plated in sterile plate of Sabouraud dextrose Agar(SDA) and Mineral Salt Medium for the culture of fungi. The culture plate was incubated at 37oC aerobically for 48-72 hours for fungi. Developing colonies on SDA were counted to obtain total fungi count. Discrete colonies were obtained by sub-culturing into SDA plates and were subsequently identified using standard methods (Agu KC et al., 2021).

Total fungi count was calculated as thus:

TFC/ TDDFC= N/VxD

TFC: Total Fungi Count

TDDFC: Total Dye Degrading Fungi Count

N: Number of Colonies

V: Volume Plated

D: Dilution Factor

Dye and media preparation

Congo red was obtained from Trust Chemicals Limited (Bangalore, India) and other fine chemicals were from SRL Chemicals, India. To study the potency of pure culture of fungal species for the degradation of the azo dye Congo red, a modified semi synthetic media was used with the following composition (g/L) along with Congo red of 0.05 g/L, soluble starch, 10; (NH4)2SO4, 0.28; KH2PO4, 0.0067; NaCl, 0.015, MgSO4.7H2O, 0.04; beef extract, 0.2 and Agar, 20g at pH of 7.0

Fungi identification and characterization

The fungal morphology was studied macroscopically by observing the colony features (color, shape, size and hyphae) on Sabouraud dextrose agar, and microscopically by a compound microscope using a lactophenol cotton blue stained slide mounted with a small portion of the mycelium with x10 and x40 lens microscopic lens (Gaddeyya G et al., 2012).

Congo red decolourization analysis

Solid phase (Agar plate) dye biosorption analysis was used for this assay, varying concentration of the azo dyes (0.1%, 0.01%, and 0.001%) was used in a solid phase medium. Fungi spotting using a diameter 8.00mm was placed on agar plate and the underside of the petri-dish was observed for clear zones and the diameter of the zones was measured for a period of 12 days in a 2 day interval (Tables 1-4) (Graphs 1 and 2).

DISCUSSION

The study showed that several fungal isolates found in the soil possess the capability to utilize certain dyes through biosorption and bioaccumulation processes which can be an important biotechnological tool for harmful waste effluent treatment associated with threats to both aquatic and terrestrial life.

Assessment of Congo red dye utilization through bioaccumulation capacity of the retrieved isolates showed that Aspergillus nigeras compared to Aspergillus flavushas an increased degradability rate for the coingo red dye to be degraded, as seen and compared to the by the control set up values in the control experiment in Table 3 and 4. It was also observed that monoculture degradation with Aspergillus niger had a degradative potential of about 81% and Aspergillus flavus had a degradative potential of about62 %. However, bi-culture dye degradation has been proposed with increased degradative potential for the same monitoring time which agrees with the wok.

CONCLUSION

A significant cause of water contamination across the world is due to textile industry effluents. Because of their xenobiotic nature, they pose a threat to both people and aquatic life. Bioremediation in the textile industry may make use of fungi and dead cells as adsorbents through bioaccumulation and biosorption. Bioremediation has evolved as an environmentally benign, low-cost, and efficient method for treating textile effluents. Microorganisms such as fungi isolated from textile dye contaminated environments can be effectively taken for bioremediation due to their well-developed mechanisms such as oxidative and reductive enzymes that assist in cleaving the chemical molecules of dye. In addition, fungi may effectively treat dye polluted wastewaters due to their several additional benefits, including their great capacity for biosorption due to their huge surface area, and the presence of chemical groups on their cell walls, which gives numerous sites for electrostatic adsorption. Although various issues require urgent attention, a future study in this field may be able to overcome the majority of the existing obstacles. The existing bioremediation strategies are primarily laboratory-scale. Integration of these systems for large-scale commercial applications is a major technological problem. There are several factors to consider when using bioremediation, including the kind of effluent, the toxicity of the metabolites, the costs involved, and the intended use of the treated water.

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