Use of Fungal Laccases and Peroxidases for Enzymatic Treatment of Wastewater Containing Synthetic Dyes - Green Chemistry for Dyes Removal from Wastewater - page 216

dyes. In fact, some polymeric dyes such as Poly R-478 (Figure 6.1) and
Poly B-411 have been used extensively to study and screen white rot fungi
for their ability to degrade lignin, as well as recalcitrant xenobiotics, such
as polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAHs) [32-34]. This outstanding ability of
white rot fungi to degrade a wide range of recalcitrant organic compounds
makes their use in biodegradation and bioremediation very attractive to
researchers who look for more environmentally friendly, green treatment
technology alternatives [35]. Numerous reports have been published on
the use of these fungi for the degradation of pesticides [36,37], chlorinated
organics like dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) [38,39], PAHs
[40], pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptors [41], as well as synthetic
dyes [12,22,23]. In this section, research on fungal decolorization of syn-
thetic dyes is briefly reviewed, as this can serve as an excellent introduction
to enzymatic treatment. More detailed reviews on this topic can be found
elsewhere. For example, earlier works (i.e., prior to 2003) were reviewed by
Wesenberg et al. [42], Fu and Viraraghavan [43], and Shah and Nerud [14],
while more recent studies were reviewed by Asgher et al. [44], Kaushik and
Malik [45], and Rodríguez-Couto [46].

6.3.1 Earlier Fungal Decolorization Studies with

Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Since the pioneering work of Glenn and Gold [24] in the early 1980s, a
large number of research papers have been published on the decoloriza-
tion of synthetic dyes using white rot fungi in the last few decades. In their
paper published in 1983, Glenn and Gold [24] demonstrated that a model
lignin-degrading white rot fungus P. chrysosporium could degrade and
decolorize three polymeric dyes, namely Poly B-411, Poly R-481, and Poly
Y-606. Similar to the cases of lignin biodegradation, they noticed an inhib-
itory effect of nitrogen in the culture media and suggested the involvement
of ligninolytic enzymes in dye decolorization by P. chrysosporium . Bumpus
and Brock [22] also reported the degradation of another synthetic dye,
Basic Violet 3 (crystal violet), and six other triarylmethane dyes including
Basic Red 9, cresol red, bromophenol blue, Basic Violet 4, Basic Green 4,
and Basic Green 1 by P. chrysosporium . Unlike the case of polymeric dyes,
crystal violet was degraded in nitrogen-sufficient, non-ligninolytic condi-
tions. Bumpus and Brock [22] also demonstrated that purified LiP from
P. chrysosporium was able to catalyze N -demethylation of Basic Violet 3.
Spadaro et al. [23] reported the degradation of various azo dyes, such as
Disperse Yellow 3 and Disperse Orange 3, by this fungus. Mineralization