Biodegradation of Malachite Green by White-Rot Fungus, Pleurotus Pulminarious

Wide spectrum of the industrial applications of Malachite green dyes and its lethal effect on the living organisms become major source of concerns as this causes damage to tissues, hindered growth and development system, developmental abnormalities, and mutagenic/carcinogenic potentials. This study evaluated the degradation of malachite green by laccase producing Pleurotus pulminarious. The pH, Total Protein, and laccase activities were used to monitor the progress of the degradation. The laccase activity and protein contents increased as the biodegradation process progressed with the highest Laccase activities and extracellular protein values of 0.2867±0.00 and 14.872±0.43 respectively at pH 3.9 and decreased progressively with increase in pH. Metabolites obtained after decolorizations were analyzed with GC-MS and FTIR studies and confirmed the biodegradation of dye. GC-MS analysis identified metabolites that were produced after the degradation of MG. This study demonstrated complete degradation of MG into low molecular weight compounds such as 3-Benzylhexahydropyrrolo[1,2-a] pyrazine-1,4-dione,3-Isobutylhexahydropyrrolo [1,2-a] pyrazine-1,4-dione, 3-Aminoacetophenone, N,4,4-Trimethylcyclohexanamine, 2,3,4-Trimethylhexane. It was concluded that the organism posses multifunction of having medicinal values, production of industrially important laccase, and for the treatment of industrial effluent containing malachite green.