The bacterial strain capable of decolorization and detoxification of the Reactive Blue 160 dye was isolated from a dye waste disposal site of Tirupur textile industries. The bacterial strain was screened and selected based on its decolorization capability of RB 160dye, which was identified as Bacillus subtilis by 16S rRNA sequencing. The strain was tested for the decolorization potential under different physio-chemical experimental conditions (pH, temperature, agitation, non-agitation) and observed a complete decolorization at pH 7 and 35 °C under shaking condition within 48 h of time. The enzymes such as, Lignin peroxidase, azoreductase and NADH-DCI were significantly induced in the strain during the decolorization of RB160 dye. Phytotoxicity and microbial toxicity studies revealed that the decolorized product of RB160 dye is less toxic to the plants and microbes. Thus, our results recommend the prospective use of B subtilis in bioremediation of RB160 dye.
Keywords: Bacillus subtilis; Decolorization; Degradation; Phytotoxicity; Reactive Blue160.
© 2020 The Authors.