HPLC and spectrophotometric analysis of biodegradation of azo dyes by Pleurotus ostreatus

A white rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus was employed for degradation of two commercially used disperse azo dyes, Disperse Orange 3 (C.I. No. 11005) and Disperse Yellow 3 (C.I. No. 11855). Decolorization and products from fungal degradation of these azo dyes in liquid medium were determined by UV–visible spectrophotometric method and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Decolorization study showed that both azo dyes were removed by more than 50% in 5 days and HPLC analysis determined several degradation products. These results suggest that P. ostreatus has potential in color removal from textile wastewater containing disperse dyes.