Project Materials

ISOLATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND DECOLOURIZATION OF SYNTHETIC TEXTILES DYES BY THERMOPHILIC HALOPHILIC ACTINOMYCETES SPECIES

Chapter one

INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

The textile sector contributes significantly to the global economy by producing garments and other textile items to suit the needs of a growing population. However, the development and usage of synthetic textile dyes has sparked concerns about their negative environmental effects.

These colours are frequently discharged into wastewater throughout various textile production processes, contaminating water bodies and soil and endangering aquatic ecosystems and human health. As a result, it is critical to develop effective and sustainable technologies for removing synthetic textile dyes from wastewater.

Traditional dye removal procedures, such as chemical oxidation, precipitation, and adsorption, have limits in terms of cost, efficiency, and the production of harmful byproducts.

Bioremediation, which uses microorganisms’ metabolic processes to dissolve or change pollutants, has emerged as a potential and environmentally benign method of dye removal. In recent years, there has been a lot of research on the ability of microorganisms like bacteria, fungus, and actinomycetes to decolorise synthetic textile colours.

Actinomycetes, a type of filamentous bacteria, are known for their extensive metabolic capabilities and capacity to create a variety of bioactive chemicals. They can be found in a wide range of habitats, including soil, water, and severe settings like hot springs and salt environments.

Actinomycetes have been intensively explored for their ability to create enzymes and secondary metabolites for use in medicine, agriculture, and industry.

Actinomycetes’ particular adaptations to severe environments make them promising candidates for bioremediation techniques, such as the removal of synthetic textile dyes.

Among the several varieties of actinomycetes, thermophilic and halophilic species have received attention due to their capacity to live in high-temperature and high-salinity settings.

Thermophilic actinomycetes can develop at temperatures exceeding 45°C, whereas halophilic actinomycetes can survive in high salt concentrations.

These extremophilic actinomycetes have unique physiological and metabolic properties, making them potentially useful resources for a variety of commercial uses.

In recent years, various research have reported on the isolation and characterisation of actinomycetes strains capable of decolorising synthetic textile dyes.

These investigations have shown that actinomycetes have the potential to degrade dyes, emphasising their versatility and efficacy in treating textile dye-contaminated wastewater.

However, the majority of these investigations have concentrated on mesophilic actinomycetes, leaving the potential for thermophilic halophilic actinomycetes in dye decolorisation largely untapped.

The purpose of this work was to identify, characterise, and explore the decolorisation capability of thermophilic halophilic actinomycetes species against synthetic textile dyes.

We hypothesised that the extremophilic character of these actinomycetes would endow them with novel enzymatic activity and metabolic pathways, allowing for efficient and effective dye decolorisation.

By leveraging these strengths, we hope to contribute to the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions for removing synthetic textile dyes from wastewater.

To accomplish our goals, we gathered samples from a variety of harsh conditions, including hot springs and salt habitats, which are known to harbour thermophilic halophilic actinomycetes.

These samples were then enriched and tested on selective media with synthetic textile dyes as the only carbon source. Promising strains capable of using synthetic textile dyes were then isolated and thoroughly characterised.

This paper describes the isolation, morphological characterisation, biochemical investigation, and molecular identification of the isolated thermophilic halophilic actinomycetes species.

Furthermore, we assess their ability to decolorise synthetic textile dyes, define the ideal dye decolorisation conditions, and examine the mechanisms involved in dye degradation and detoxification.

Overall, this study advances our understanding of the potential of extremophilic actinomycetes in the field of