Process optimization and enhanced decolorization of textile effluent by Planococcus sp. isolated from textile sludge

Abstract The aim of present study is to isolate and characterize the indigenous bacterial isolates from textile industry effluents and sludge samples and investigate their decolorization ability, along with the influence of various process parameters on decolorization. Nine different bacterial strains were isolated from textile unit site in which one isolate (TS2O), having greater ability towards color removal was identified as Planococcus sp. by 16S rDNA sequencing. Optimization of decolorization process parameters was performed using Taguchi method in which five factors at two levels have been applied in L-8 orthogonal array. Maximum color removal rate (45%) has been obtained by 2% nitrogen, 1% carbon, 10% effluent, at pH 8 and 25 °C. The decolorization rate has been improved to 55% by adding peptone (0.5%w/v) as best nitrogen source and further up to 60% with dextrose (0.5%w/v) as best carbon source. A significant improvement up to 78% decolorization was observed during process parameter optimization with this statistical approach. Hence, this method validates its usefulness to treat various industrial wastewaters economically.