Batch, repeated batch and continuous degradation of Reactive Black 5 and Reactive Red 120 dye by immobilized bacteria

Abstract

This study presents batch degradation of Reactive Black 5 (RB5) and Reactive Red 120 (RR120) dyes using free cells of <i>Aeromonas punctata </i>and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, resulting 100% degradation up to 100 ppm and 150 ppm of respective dye. Immobilized cells showed 100% degradation of RB5 dye (up to 150 ppm) and RR120 dye (up to 200 ppm). On repeated use of immobilized beads, both <i>A. punctata </i>and <i>P. aeruginosa </i>showed 100% degradation of respective dye (at 150 ppm conc.) up to 10 cycles. During continuous degradation, degradation efficiencies of both cultures decreased with increase in dye concentration and flow rate. Degradation efficiency of <i>P. aeruginosa </i>was better than <i>A. punctata </i>with different flow rate and dye concentration.