BIODEGRADATION OF TEXTILE DYES ASSOCIATED WITH CULTIVATION OF Geobacillus stearothermophilus: AN ALTERNATIVE FOR BIOSURFACTANT PRODUCTION

Abstract

Nowadays environmental issues have a great appeal before society. Among these, wastewater from textile industries is a precursor of pollution for water bodies, by the degrading water quality, harming the biota and impairing more noble uses. Given this, the biological treatment is a viable alternative for biodegradation of aquatic pollutants. To this end this study aimed to analyze the degradation of textile dyes (methyl orange and methylene blue) associated with the cultivation of Geobacillus stearothermophilus, UCP 986, under thermophilic aerobic condition and in the absence of additional sources of carbon, as an alternative for biosurfactant production. During the cultivation, it was evaluated the variables color, pH, total protein, biomass, emulsification index and emulsification activity. Our results showed degradation after 24h cultivation, through the reduction of color, both for methyl orange (15 mg/L) and methylene blue (10 mg/L). This ratified the ability of G. stearothemophilus for treating colorful waste without impacting the environment, besides producing biomass for further treatments of recalcitrant molecules. The production of biosurfactant was satisfactory and promising, confirming its biotechnological potential in the recalcitrant degradation.

Key Words: methyl orange, methylene blue, biodegradation, biosurfactant, Geobacillus stearothemophilus