Abstract:
Brilliant green has been used as an effective compound to control external fungal and protozoan infections
of fish though is carcinogenic and teratogenic. Present study focuses on the efficient degradation
of brilliant green using callus cultures of the plant, Tecoma stans var. angustata, showing a peroxidase
activity of 3.07 IU g−1. Callus cultures retained 86% activity after immobilization in calcium alginate. Dye
degradation parameters were initially optimized using batch cultures. A packed bed reactor was constructed
using the immobilized beads and different concentrations of the dye from 8.5 to 45 mg l−1 along
with H2O2 were given in an up-flow mode. Km and Vmax for the dye degradation were 0.01924 g l−1
and 0.035 g l−1 h−1. The bioreactor could degrade 94% of the dye (concentration–35 mg l−1) at a residence
time of 42.0
×
10−3 h. Percentage of degradation varied depending on the flow rate, residence time and
dilution rate. TLC and reverse phase HPLC analysis showed that the dye was completely degraded to
minor non toxic metabolites via complete degradation of the aromatic rings and by cleavage of functional
groups. The current study is a preliminary work that can be used for application in Aquaculture
and allied Industries where biodegradation of brilliant green is required
