Isolation and characterization of Pseudomonas otitidis WL-13 and its capacity to decolorize triphenylmethane dyes.

Pseudomonas otitidis WL-13, which has a high capacity to decolorize triphenylmethane dyes, was isolated from activated sludge obtained from a wastewater treatment plant of a dyeing industry. This strain exhibited a remarkable color-removal capability when tested against several triphenylmethane dyes under both shaking and static conditions at high concentrations of dyes. More than 95% of Malachite Green and Brilliant Green was removed within 12 h at 500 micromol/L dye concentration under shaking conditions. Crystal Violet lost about 13% of its color under the same conditions tested. The rate of decolorization increased when the M9 medium was supplemented with yeast extract. The optimum pH and temperature for color removal were 7-9 and 35-40 degrees C, respectively. The observed changes in the visible spectra and the inspection of bacterial growth indicated the color-removal by the adsorption of dye to the cells during incubation with strains.