Role of Microbes in Dye Degradation

Modern industrialization has high demand for dyes to impart better color to cosmetic, paper, textile and pharmaceutical industry. Dyes are of several kinds depending on the base of their chromophore groups, chemical structures, methods of application on the substrate, and dissociation properties in aqueous solution. The wastewater created during dyeing process, application, and operation contains residual dyes, mordants, and organic and inorganic contaminants, which are having drastic negative effect on the valuable environment and its living creatures. Various kinds of technologies are needed for the absolute degradation of dyes before the safely discharge of effluents. Among them, physiochemical methods are mostly used but are not environment friendly and cost-effective and are producing secondary hazards that required further treatment. So, there is a growing demand for alternative environment and budget-friendly biological approaches that involve the use of microbes, fungi, algae, and plants. These biological methods involve several techniques such as biosorption, biodegradation, and biomineralization. This chapter discusses different types of dyes and their degradation using microorganisms.