In this study, the decolorization efficiency of seven microalgae isolates; Nostoc muscorum, Nostoc humifusum, Spirulina platensis, Anabaena oryzae, Wollea saccata, Oscillatoria sp. and Chlorella vulgaris was investigated for dye decolorization. The highest decolorization percentages of Brazilwood, Orange G, and Naphthol Green B dyes (99.5%, 99.5%, and 98.5%, respectively) were achieved by Chlorella vulgaris. However, the maximum efficiency for dye decolorization percentages of CV and malachite green dyes were exhibited by A. oryzae (97.4%) and W. saccata (93.3%). Ligninolytic enzymes activity assay was carried out for laccase and lignin peroxidase enzymes, which revealed a high efficiency of the C. vulgaris, A. oryzae and W. saccata to lignin containing compound degradation. The highest laccase production recorded by C. vulgaris with Brazilwood, Orange G, and Naphthol Green B dyes (665.0, 678.6, and 659.5 U/ml, respectively). Similarly, C. vulgaris gave a high lignin peroxidase enzyme production with the above three dyes respectively (306.00, 298.34, and 311.45 U/ml). In addition, A. oryzae and W. saccata showed the highest production of the laccase enzyme (634.6 and 577.45 U/ml, respectively) with CV and malachite green dyes. The degradation products have been characterized after decolorization and verified using FTIR analysis. The high decolorization percentages achieved by C. vulgaris, A. oryzae and W. saccata make them potential candidates for bioremediation and pre-processing to remove dyes from textile effluents.
Keywords: Cyanobacteria; dye decolorization; ligninolytic enzymes; microalgae.