Biodegradation of Turquoise Blue Dye by Bacillus Megaterium Isolated from Industrial Effluent

Turquoise blue dye (Remazol Blue BB) is a reactive dye which is used by almost all textile industries. The sample was collected from dye industries near VATVA G.I.D.C. (Gujarat) and adjourning surrounding area. On the basis of colony morphology and certain biochemical tests the strain was identified as Bacillus megaterium species and gave maximum decolourization of turquoise blue dye within 48 hours at pH 7.00 and 37°C in the medium followed by blue M2R, Safranin, Congo red, Malachite green Orange ME2RL and Yellow M8G dyes. This organism can decolourize turquoise blue dye up to a concentration of 5mg/ml but showed maximum dye degradation at 1mg/ml concentration. Glucose (1g%) was found to be the best Carbon source while NH4Cl (1g%) was found as the best Nitrogen source for maximum biodegradation process. The isolated strain is even able to degrade wide range of dyes. Further, there is a need to test this organism at large scale degradation of this dye.